The information in this preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus is not complete and may be changed. This preliminary prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus are not an offer to sell these securities and they are not soliciting an offer to buy these securities in any jurisdiction where the offer or sale is not permitted.
Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5)
Registration No. 333-203727
Subject to Completion
Preliminary Prospectus Supplement dated April 19, 2017
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To prospectus dated May 18, 2015)
8,100,000 Common Shares
________________
We are offering 8,100,000 common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.001 per share, or our common shares.
Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or the NYSE, under the symbol “WSR.” On April 18, 2017, the last reported sale price of our common shares on the NYSE was $14.33 per share.
We are organized and conduct our operations to qualify as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, for U.S. federal income tax purposes. To assist us in complying with certain U.S. federal income tax requirements applicable to REITs, among other purposes, our declaration of trust contains certain restrictions relating to the ownership and transfer of our common shares, including an ownership limit of 9.8% (in value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of our outstanding common shares. See “Description of Shares—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer” in the accompanying prospectus.
Investing in our common shares involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page S-8 of this prospectus supplement and the risk factors discussed in our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission and incorporated herein by reference.
________________
Per Share | Total | |||
Public offering price | $ | $ | ||
Underwriting discount | $ | $ | ||
Proceeds, before expenses, to us | $ | $ | ||
The underwriters may also exercise their option to purchase up to an additional 1,215,000 common shares from us, at the public offering price, less the underwriting discount, within 30 days after the date of this prospectus supplement.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state or other securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or determined if this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
The common shares will be ready for delivery on or about April , 2017.
________________
SunTrust Robinson Humphrey | BMO Capital Markets | JMP Securities | ||||||||||||||||
Wunderlich | J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, LLC | Janney Montgomery Scott | ||||||||||||||||
Ladenburg Thalmann | Maxim Group LLC | |||||||||||||||||
The date of this prospectus supplement is April , 2017.
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Prospectus Supplement
Page | |
Prospectus | |
________________
You should rely only on the information contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus or any applicable free writing prospectus in making a decision about whether to invest in our common shares. We have not, and the underwriters have not, authorized any other person to provide you with different or additional information. If anyone provides you with different or additional information, you should not rely on it. This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus do not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to purchase, any securities in any jurisdiction where it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation. You should assume that the information appearing in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus, any applicable free writing prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein is accurate only as of their respective dates or on the date or dates which are specified in these documents. Our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, funds from operations, or FFO, and prospects may have changed since those dates.
S-i
We obtained the industry, market and competitive position data used in this prospectus supplement from (i) our own internal estimates and research of third-party company websites and other sources, (ii) industry and general publications and research or (iii) studies and surveys conducted by third parties. Such sources generally do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of included information. While we believe that the information included in this prospectus supplement from such publications, research, studies, surveys and websites is reliable, we have not independently verified data from these third-party sources. While we believe our internal estimates and research are reliable, such estimates and research have not been verified by any independent source.
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
This document consists of two parts. The first part is this prospectus supplement, which describes the specific terms of this offering and also adds to and updates information contained in the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference. The second part, the accompanying prospectus, contains a description of our common shares and provides more general information, some of which may not apply to this offering. When we refer only to the prospectus, we are referring to both parts combined, and when we refer to the accompanying prospectus, we are referring to the base prospectus.
To the extent the information contained in this prospectus supplement differs or varies from the information contained in the accompanying prospectus or documents incorporated by reference herein or therein, the information in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement will supersede such information. In addition, any statement in a filing we make with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or SEC, that adds to, updates or changes information contained in an earlier filing we made with the SEC shall be deemed to modify and supersede such information in the earlier filing.
This prospectus supplement is part of a registration statement that we have filed with the SEC relating to our common shares offered hereby. This prospectus supplement does not contain all of the information that we have included in the registration statement and the accompanying exhibits and schedules in accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC, and we refer you to the omitted information. It is important for you to read carefully and consider all information contained in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus in making your investment decision. You should also read carefully and consider the additional information incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. See “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” in this prospectus supplement and “Where You Can Find More Information” in the accompanying prospectus.
Unless otherwise indicated or unless the context requires otherwise, all references to “we,” “our,” “us,” “Whitestone,” “Whitestone REIT” and “our Company” in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus refer to Whitestone REIT, a Maryland real estate investment trust, and its consolidated subsidiaries, including Whitestone REIT Operating Partnership, L.P., or our operating partnership. Whitestone REIT Operating Partnership, L.P. is a Delaware limited partnership of which we are the sole general partner.
CAUTIONARY NOTE REGARDING FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements provide our current expectations or forecasts of future events and are not statements of historical fact. These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future events, including, among other things, discussion and analysis of our financial condition, pending acquisitions and the impact of such acquisitions, including expected financing developments, capitalization rates and internal rates of return, on our financial condition and results of operations, anticipated capital expenditures required to complete projects, amounts of anticipated cash distributions to our shareholders in the future, our ability to meet our assumptions regarding our earnings guidance, and other matters. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but are the intent, belief or current expectations of our management based on its knowledge and understanding of our business and industry. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by the use of terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “potential,” “predicts,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates” or the negative of such terms and variations of these words and similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements include these words. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, are difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements.
S- ii
Forward-looking statements that were true at the time made may ultimately prove to be incorrect or false. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements made in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus include:
• | our ability to successfully finance and complete our pending acquisitions and related development projects and, if completed, the ability of such newly acquired and new development properties to perform as we expect, including with respect to projected unlevered internal rates of return; |
• | the imposition of federal taxes if we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year or forego an opportunity to ensure REIT status; |
• | uncertainties related to the national economy, the real estate industry in general and in our specific markets; |
• | legislative or regulatory changes, including changes to laws governing REITs; |
• | adverse economic or real estate developments in our principal markets in Texas or Arizona; |
• | increases in interest rates and operating costs; |
• | availability and terms of capital and financing, both to fund our operations and to refinance our indebtedness as it matures; |
• | decreases in rental rates or increases in vacancy rates; |
• | litigation risks; |
• | lease-up risks, including leasing risks arising from exclusivity and consent provisions in leases with significant tenants; |
• | our inability to renew tenant leases or obtain new tenant leases upon the expiration of existing leases; |
• | our inability to generate sufficient cash flows due to market conditions, competition, uninsured losses, changes in tax or other applicable laws; and |
• | the need to fund tenant improvements or other capital expenditures out of operating cash flow. |
The forward-looking statements should be read in light of these factors and the factors identified in the “Risk Factors” incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus from our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other reports and information that we file with the SEC.
S- iii
NON-GAAP FINANCIAL MEASURES
The information in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement contains supplemental financial measures that are not calculated pursuant to U.S. generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, including net operating income, or NOI. Management believes that NOI is a useful measure of the Company’s property operating performance. The Company defines NOI as operating revenues (rental and other revenues) less property and related expenses (property operation and maintenance and real estate taxes). Because NOI excludes general and administrative expenses, depreciation and amortization, involuntary conversion, interest expense, interest income, provision for income taxes, gain or loss on sale or disposition of assets and capital expenditures and leasing costs, it provides a performance measure that, when compared year over year, reflects the revenues and expenses directly associated with owning and operating commercial real estate properties and the impact to operations from trends in occupancy rates, rental rates and operating costs, providing perspective not immediately apparent from net income. The Company uses NOI to evaluate its operating performance since NOI allows the Company to evaluate the impact of factors, such as occupancy levels, lease structure, lease rates and tenant base, have on the Company’s results, margins and returns. In addition, management believes that NOI provides useful information to the investment community about the Company’s property and operating performance when compared to other REITs since NOI is generally recognized as a standard measure of property performance in the real estate industry. However, NOI should not be viewed as a measure of the Company's overall financial performance since it does not reflect general and administrative expenses, depreciation and amortization, involuntary conversion, interest expense, interest income, provision for income taxes, gain or loss on sale or disposition of assets, and the level of capital expenditures and leasing costs necessary to maintain the operating performance of the Company's properties. Other REITs may use different methodologies for calculating NOI, and accordingly, the Company’s NOI calculations may not be comparable to those of other REITs. The reconciliation of forward-looking non-GAAP information to the most directly comparable GAAP measure was not available without unreasonable effort.
S- iv
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT SUMMARY This summary highlights selected information contained in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus. This summary is not complete and does not contain all of the information that you should consider before making a decision to invest in our common shares. You should read carefully this entire prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus, including each of the documents incorporated herein or therein by reference, including the financial statements and notes to those financial statements incorporated by reference herein and therein. Please read “Risk Factors” for more information about risks that you should consider before investing in our common shares. Unless otherwise expressly stated or the context requires otherwise, all information in this prospectus supplement assumes that the option to purchase up to 1,215,000 additional common shares that we granted to the underwriters is not exercised. Whitestone REIT Our Company We are a self-managed, fully-integrated real estate investment trust, or REIT, that primarily owns, manages, and redevelops high quality retail properties, which we refer to as Community Centered Properties™. Our properties are primarily located in attractive and affluent neighborhoods within high growth Sunbelt markets such as Phoenix, Houston, Dallas-Fort Worth, Austin and San Antonio. We believe that gaining critical mass within these target markets, combined with our local market intelligence, existing platform, access to capital and broad network of industry relationships, gives us a competitive advantage and allows us to generate long-term return opportunities and added value for our shareholders. Substantially all of our business is conducted through our operating partnership. We are the sole general partner of our operating partnership. As of December 31, 2016, we owned a 96.4% interest in our operating partnership. We have elected to be taxed as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code. Our executive offices are located at 2600 South Gessner, Suite 500, Houston, Texas 77063, and our telephone number is (713) 827-9595. Our website can be accessed at www.whitestonereit.com. The information located on, or accessible from, our website is not incorporated into and does not constitute a part of this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus or any free writing prospectus and is not incorporated into any other filings that we make with the SEC. Our Portfolio As of December 31, 2016, we owned or had a majority interest in 69 commercial properties consisting of: Consolidated Operating Portfolio • 47 wholly-owned properties that meet our Community Centered Properties™ strategy containing approximately 4.4 million square feet of gross leasable area, or GLA, and having a total carrying amount (net of accumulated depreciation) of $697.7 million; and• through our 81.4% majority interest in our consolidated subsidiary, Pillarstone Capital REIT Operating Partnership LP, or Pillarstone OP, an interest in 14 consolidated properties that do not meet our Community Centered Properties™ strategy containing approximately 1.5 million square feet of GLA and having a total carrying amount (net of accumulated depreciation) of $60.5 million; andRedevelopment, New Acquisitions Portfolio • three retail properties that meet our Community Centered Properties™ strategy containing approximately 0.1 million square feet of GLA and having a total carrying amount (net of accumulated depreciation) of $43.4 million; and• five parcels of land held for future development having a total carrying amount of $11.5 million.Our properties are primarily located in Austin, San Antonio, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston and the greater Phoenix metropolitan area. In addition to being business friendly, these are five of the top markets in the country in terms of size, economic strength and population growth. Within these markets, we believe that our properties are located among the best retail corners embedded in affluent communities. | ||
S-1
In addition, we have two properties containing approximately 439,000 square feet of GLA under contract for purchase. See “—Recent Developments.” Our Tenants/Our Clients As of December 31, 2016, we had an aggregate of 1,556 tenants. We have a diversified tenant base with our largest tenant comprising only 3.0% of our total revenues for the year ended December 31, 2016. We believe that our retail properties offer a unique mix of creditworthy tenants, ranging from local tenants to recognizable regional and national tenants. Our tenants are generally service-oriented and aim to provide daily necessities to their customers. As such, we believe we have assembled a tenant mix that generates higher frequency visits from customers, that is generally “e-commerce resistant,” and that leads to strong tenant demand for properties. As a result, we continue to see strong leasing activity in our properties, with 434 new and renewal leases completed during 2016, totaling 1,121,331 square feet and $77.0 million in total lease value. This compares to 408 new and renewal leases during 2015, totaling 965,897 square feet and $61.8 million in total lease value. Our Strategy In October 2006, our current management team joined the Company and adopted a strategic plan to acquire, redevelop, own and operate Community Centered Properties™. We define Community Centered Properties™ as visibly located properties in established or developing culturally diverse neighborhoods in our target markets. We market, lease and manage our Community Centered Properties™ to match tenants with the shared needs of the surrounding neighborhood. Those needs may include specialty retail, grocery, restaurants and medical, educational and financial services. Our goal is for each property we acquire to become a Whitestone-branded retail community that serves a neighboring five-mile radius around the property. We employ and develop a diverse group of associates who understand the needs of our multicultural communities and tenants. Our primary business objective is to increase shareholder value by acquiring, owning, redeveloping and operating Community Centered Properties™. The key elements of our strategy include: • Strategically Acquiring Properties.◦ Seeking High Growth Markets. We seek to strategically acquire retail properties in high-growth markets. Our acquisition targets are located in densely populated, culturally diverse neighborhoods, primarily in and around Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Phoenix and San Antonio.◦ Diversifying Geographically. Our current portfolio is concentrated in Houston and Phoenix. We believe that continued geographic diversification in markets where we have substantial knowledge and experience will help offset the economic risk from market concentration. We intend to continue to focus our expansion efforts on the Austin, Dallas-Fort Worth, Houston, Phoenix and San Antonio markets. We believe our management infrastructure and capacity can accommodate substantial growth in those markets. We may also pursue opportunities in other regions that are consistent with our Community Centered Property™ strategy. Markets in which we have developed some knowledge and contacts include Orlando, Florida and Denver, Colorado, both of which have economic, demographic and cultural profiles similar to our Arizona and Texas markets. | ||
S-2
◦ Capitalizing on Availability of Reasonably Priced Acquisition Opportunities. We believe that currently and during the next several years there will continue to be excellent opportunities in our target markets to acquire quality properties at historically attractive prices. We intend to acquire assets in off-market transactions negotiated directly with owners or financial institutions holding foreclosed real estate and debt instruments that are either in default or on bank watch lists. Many of these assets may benefit from our Community Centered Property™ strategy and our management team’s experience in turning around distressed properties, portfolios and companies. We have extensive relationships with community banks, attorneys, title companies and others in the real estate industry with whom we regularly work to identify properties for potential acquisition.• Redeveloping and Re-tenanting Existing Properties. We have substantial experience in repositioning underperforming properties and seek to add value through renovating and re-tenanting our properties to create Whitestone-branded Community Centered Properties™. We seek to accomplish this by (1) stabilizing occupancy, with per property occupancy goals of 90% or higher; (2) adding leasable square footage to existing structures; (3) developing and building new leasable square footage on excess land; (4) upgrading and renovating existing structures; and (5) investing significant effort in recruiting tenants whose goods and services meet the needs of the surrounding neighborhood.• Recycling Capital for Greater Returns. We seek to continually upgrade our portfolio by opportunistically selling properties that do not have the potential to meet our Community Centered Property™ strategy and redeploying the sale proceeds into properties that better fit our strategy. Some of our properties that we owned at the time our current management team assumed the management of the Company, or the Legacy Portfolio, may not fit our Community Centered Property™ strategy, and we may look for opportunities to dispose of these properties as we continue to execute our strategy. For example, in December 2014, we sold three suburban office properties in Clear Lake, Texas that were part of the Legacy Portfolio.• Prudent Management of Capital Structure. We currently have 50 properties that are unencumbered. We may seek to add mortgage indebtedness to existing and newly acquired unencumbered properties to provide additional capital for acquisitions. As a general policy, we intend to maintain a ratio of total indebtedness to undepreciated book value of real estate assets that is at or less than 60%. As of December 31, 2016, our ratio of total indebtedness to undepreciated book value of real estate assets was 59%. On a pro forma basis, immediately following and after giving effect to this offering and the use of the net proceeds from this offering, (assuming a public offering price of $14.33, the last reported sale price of our common shares on the NYSE on April 18, 2017) including closing the Pending Acquisitions (as defined below), we expect our ratio of total indebtedness to undepreciated book value of real estate assets to be approximately 57.3%.• Investing in People. We believe that our people are the heart of our culture, philosophy and strategy. We continually focus on developing associates who are self-disciplined and motivated and display, at all times, a high degree of character and competence. We provide them with equity incentives to align their interests with those of our shareholders. | ||
S-3
Recent Developments Pending Acquisitions On February 24, 2017, we entered into a purchase and sale agreement to acquire Eldorado Plaza, a retail center located in McKinney, Texas, for a purchase price of approximately $46.6 million in cash. On March 21, 2017, we entered into a purchase and sale agreement to acquire BLVD Place, a retail center, and an adjacent developable land parcel, both located in Houston, Texas, for an aggregate purchase price of $158.0 million in cash. We refer to the Eldorado Plaza acquisition and the BLVD Place acquisition as the Pending Acquisitions. We refer to the purchase and sale agreements governing the Pending Acquisitions as the Purchase Agreements. The following table sets forth certain information relating to the Pending Acquisitions: | ||||||||
Pending Acquisition | Market | Year Built | GLA | Occupancy | Annualized Base Rental Revenue Per Sq. Ft. (1) | Additional Developable GLA | ||
Eldorado Plaza | Dallas - Fort Worth | 2004 - 2007 | 221,577 sq. ft. | 97% | $15.26 | 24,000 sq. ft. | ||
BLVD Place | Houston | 2014 | 216,944 sq. ft. | 99% | $38.87 | 136,930 sq. ft. | ||
(1) Annualized base rental revenue represents the monthly contractual rent under in-place leases as of April 15, 2017 at the applicable Pending Acquisition, multiplied by 12. | ||||||||
Pursuant to the Purchase Agreements, we have made an aggregate of approximately $1.1 million of earnest money deposits on the Pending Acquisitions. On April 21, 2017 we expect to make an aggregate of approximately $3.4 million of additional earnest money deposits on the Pending Acquisitions. All of our earnest money deposits on the Pending Acquisitions are expected to become non-refundable on April 21, 2017. We currently expect the closing of the Pending Acquisitions to occur in May 2017, subject to customary closing conditions. As a part of our standard due diligence process in connection with the Pending Acquisitions, we analyzed the projected unlevered internal rate of return, or IRR, we expect to derive from the Pending Acquisitions. We have estimated the projected unlevered IRR for each of the Eldorado Plaza and BLVD Place acquisitions to be in the mid-teens. We calculate projected unlevered IRR using projected NOI over an eight-year hold period and assuming an exit capitalization rate of 6%. We calculate projected NOI based on projected full-year contractual rent for year eight (based on monthly contractual rent under in-place leases as of April 15, 2017, multiplied by 12, and assuming rent escalating at 3% annually upon expiration of in-place leases and upon development and lease-up of the developable land parcels) less projected full-year operating expenses for year eight (based on actual monthly operating expenses as of April 15, 2017, multiplied by 12, and assuming a 3% annual rate of inflation). Further, we estimate a going-in capitalization rate of 6.2% at BLVD Place and 6.7% at Eldorado Plaza, respectively. We calculate these going-in capitalization rates by dividing going-in full-year NOI (based on monthly contractual rent under in-place leases as of April 15, 2017, multiplied by 12, and actual monthly operating expenses as of April 15, 2017, multiplied by 12) by the purchase price of each Pending Acquisition (excluding, with respect to BLVD Place, $10 million of the purchase price that is allocated to the developable land parcel). In addition, the projected unlevered IRR for Eldorado Plaza assumes the projected impact of development of approximately 24,000 square feet of GLA and lease to Starbucks in accordance with the executed letter of intent described below upon the exercise of a buyer option to purchase an adjacent land parcel at an estimated cost to acquire and develop the land parcel of approximately $4.0 million. The projected unlevered IRR of BLVD Place assumes the projected impact of the development and lease-up of approximately 137,000 square feet of GLA on the adjacent land parcel at an estimated cost to acquire and develop the land parcel of approximately $55.0 million, including $10.0 million of the aggregate purchase price of BLVD Place allocated to the acquisition of the land parcel. | ||||||||
S-4
We caution you not to place undue reliance on our projected unlevered IRR for the Pending Acquisitions because it is based solely on data made available to us in the diligence process and is not calculated pursuant to GAAP. Although we believe that the opportunity exists to meet our projected unlevered IRR through the development of acquired or the ability to acquire and develop adjacent land parcels and lease-up such new developments, our experience operating the Pending Acquisitions may materially change our expectations with respect to our projected unlevered IRR. In addition, the actual unlevered IRR for the Pending Acquisitions may differ materially from our expectations based on numerous factors, including difficulties collecting anticipated rental revenues, additional development costs, tenant bankruptcies, property tax reassessments and unanticipated expenses at the Pending Acquisitions that we cannot pass on to tenants, as well as the information set forth under “Risk Factors” in this prospectus supplement, the accompanying prospectus and the documents incorporated by reference herein and therein. Rationale for the Acquisition of the Pending Acquisitions We expect the acquisition of the Pending Acquisitions to have the following strategic benefits: • High-Quality Assets: Both Eldorado Plaza and BLVD Place are high-quality, Class A lifestyle centers with well-crafted tenant bases of primarily service-based tenants, including grocery, dining, entertainment and health and wellness.• Great Location with Strong Demographics: Eldorado Plaza is well located in McKinney, Texas, on the north end of the Platinum Corridor. The Platinum Corridor is known for its mix of national companies and regional branch offices including Coca-Cola, Wells Fargo, Pizza Hut, Hilton Hotels, NexBank, iHeart Communications and Mary Kay Cosmetics. An estimated 191,000 people lived within the five-mile radius of Eldorado Plaza as of December 31, 2016 and the population is estimated to grow by 11.6% to 213,600 in 2022, according to Claritas. As of December 31, 2016, the average household income of the population within the five-mile radius of Eldorado Plaza was approximately $124,000 and the unemployment rate was 2.8%, in each case according to Claritas. BLVD Place is located in Uptown Houston, one of the largest business districts in the United States, ranking 15th nationally, according to Grubb & Ellis, and comparable in size to the central business districts of Pittsburgh and Denver. Uptown Houston has impressive density, with an estimated 499,000 residents living within a five-mile radius as of December 31, 2016, estimated to grow by 7.6% to 536,947 by 2022, with an average household income within the five-mile radius of BLVD Place of approximately $124,000, in each case according to Claritas. • Future Development Potential: Included in the purchase of Eldorado Plaza is an option to purchase approximately 1.86 acres of developable land that will give us the ability to build an estimated 24,000 square feet of additional leasable space, based on current plans. As of the date of this prospectus supplement, Starbucks has signed a letter of intent to relocate from its current space at Eldorado Plaza to a newly developed free-standing drive through space to be located on the developable land at Eldorado Plaza. After Starbucks relocates, based on its signed letter of intent we expect its rent per square foot to increase from $30.00 to $62.50. Included in the purchase of BLVD Place is approximately 1.43 acres of developable land. We currently intend to develop a six-story, 137,000 square foot mixed-use building, which we refer to as the BLVD Phase II-B development, on the developable land at BLVD Place, for an estimated $45 million incremental development cost. The BLVD Phase II-B development is expected to include 46,000 square feet of retail space on the first two floors and 91,000 square feet of office space on the top four floors. Construction of the BLVD Phase II-B development is expected to begin shortly after the closing of the BLVD Place acquisition and is expected to take approximately 18 months to complete. | ||
S-5
• Increased Scale and Operating Efficiencies in Our Dallas and Houston Markets: The acquisition of Eldorado Plaza and BLVD Place will increase the leasable square feet of our retail properties in our Dallas and Houston markets by 65% and 18%, respectively. We expect that the Pending Acquisitions will require only nominal increases to our operating personnel and general and administrative expenses, allowing us to recognize economies of scale in operating the newly-acquired properties. • Investment Grade Tenancy: BLVD Place is anchored by a diversified mix of credit tenants such as Whole Foods Market, Frost Bank, Verizon and Regus that serve as destination drivers for the center. Credit tenants comprise 60.8% of the property’s GLA and carry a blended credit rating of Baa1/BBB+ with approximately 12 years of primary lease term remaining.• Security of Income with Upside: BLVD Place is 99% leased, with an average remaining primary lease term of approximately 10 years and has a diversified rent roll with 100% of contractual income derived from tenants outside of the oil and gas industry. Financing of the Pending Acquisitions The closings of the Pending Acquisitions are not subject to a financing condition and the closing of this offering is not conditioned upon the closings of the Pending Acquisitions. We expect to fund the purchase price of the Pending Acquisitions and related transaction expenses through a combination of net proceeds from this offering and (a) with respect to the Eldorado Plaza acquisition, borrowings under our unsecured revolving credit facility and (b) with respect to the BLVD Place acquisition, $80 million of asset level mortgage financing, which we refer to as the BLVD Financing. We are currently negotiating the terms of the BLVD Financing with potential lenders, however we have not yet entered into a binding commitment letter or definitive loan documents and there can be no assurance that we will obtain the BLVD Financing on the terms we anticipate or at all. The consummation of the BLVD Place acquisition is not contingent on obtaining the BLVD Financing and, in the event we do not obtain the BLVD Financing, we expect to fund the purchase price of the BLVD Place acquisition through a combination of net proceeds from this offering and borrowings under our unsecured revolving credit facility. In addition, pursuant to the Purchase Agreements, the closings of the Pending Acquisitions are subject to the satisfaction or waiver of certain customary closing conditions. There can be no assurance that the closings of the Pending Acquisitions will occur in accordance with the anticipated timeline or at all. See “Risk Factors- There can be no assurance that the Pending Acquisitions will be consummated or that the BLVD Financing will be obtained in accordance with the anticipated timing or at all, and the closing of this offering is not conditioned on the consummation of the Pending Acquisitions or on obtaining the BLVD Financing.” | ||
S-6
THE OFFERING | |||
Issuer | Whitestone REIT, a Maryland real estate investment trust. | ||
Common Shares Offered by Us | 8,100,000 common shares (or 9,315,000 common shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares) | ||
Common Shares to be Outstanding after this Offering | 38,135,961 common shares (or 39,350,961 common shares if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares) (1) | ||
Use of Proceeds | We estimate that the net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $ million (or approximately $ million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares) after deducting estimated offering expenses payable by us. We will contribute the net proceeds of this offering to our operating partnership in exchange for OP units. Our operating partnership intends to use the net proceeds from this offering to fund a portion of the purchase price of the Pending Acquisitions, initially to repay a portion of outstanding indebtedness under our unsecured revolving credit facility which amounts will then become available for future borrowings, including to fund a portion of the purchase price of the Pending Acquisition, or for general corporate purposes. See “Use of Proceeds.” | ||
Restrictions on Ownership | In order to assist us in maintaining our qualification as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes, among other purposes, ownership, directly or indirectly, by any person of more than 9.8% (in value or number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of our outstanding common shares is restricted by our declaration of trust. This restriction may be waived by our board of trustees, in its sole and absolute discretion, upon satisfaction of certain conditions. See “Description of Shares—Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer” in the accompanying prospectus. | ||
NYSE Symbol | WSR | ||
Risk Factors | Investing in our common shares involves risks. Before deciding to invest in our common shares, please read carefully the section entitled “Risk Factors,” including the risks incorporated therein from our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and our other periodic reports filed with the SEC and incorporated by reference herein. | ||
(1) The number of common shares to be outstanding after this offering is based upon 30,035,961 common shares outstanding as of April 19, 2017, which excludes 1,085,281 common shares issuable upon conversion of outstanding OP units and 2,574,391 common shares available for future issuance under our 2008 Long-Term Equity Incentive Ownership Plan. For additional information regarding our common shares, see “Description of Shares” in the accompanying prospectus. | |||
S-7
RISK FACTORS
Investing in our common shares involves risks. In consultation with your own financial and legal advisers, you should consider carefully, among other matters, the factors set forth below as well as in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 and other information that we file from time to time with the SEC that are incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement and the accompanying prospectus before deciding whether an investment in common shares is suitable for you. See “Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference” in this prospectus supplement and in the accompanying prospectus. If any of the risks contained in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus develop into actual events, our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, FFO, FFO Core and prospects could be materially and adversely affected, the market price of our common shares could decline and you may lose all or part of your investment.
There can be no assurance that the Pending Acquisitions will be consummated or that the BLVD Financing will be obtained in accordance with the anticipated timing or at all, and the closing of this offering is not conditioned on the consummation of the Pending Acquisitions or on obtaining the BLVD Financing.
Although we expect to obtain the BLVD Financing and close the Pending Acquisitions in May 2017, there can be no assurance that the BLVD Financing will obtained or that the Pending Acquisitions will be completed in accordance with the anticipated timing or at all or on the terms or in the manner currently anticipated. We currently expect to fund the purchase price of the Pending Acquisitions and related transaction expenses through a combination of net proceeds from this offering and (a) with respect to the Eldorado Plaza acquisition, borrowings under our unsecured revolving credit facility and (b) with respect to the BLVD Place acquisition, the BLVD Financing. However, we have not yet entered into a binding commitment letter or definitive loan documents with respect to the BLVD Financing and there can be no assurance that we will obtain the BLVD Financing on the terms we anticipate or at all. The consummation of the BLVD Place acquisition is not contingent on obtaining the BLVD Financing and, in the event we do not obtain the BLVD Financing, we expect to fund the purchase price of the BLVD Place acquisition through a combination of net proceeds from this offering and borrowings under our unsecured revolving credit facility.
In addition, the Pending Acquisitions are subject to customary closing conditions which may not be satisfied or waived, in which case we will not be obligated to complete the Pending Acquisitions and, in certain circumstances, the sellers may retain our earnest money deposits on the Pending Acquisitions. Further, under certain circumstances specified in the Purchase Agreements, we may terminate the Purchase Agreements.
The closing of this offering is not conditioned on the consummation of the Pending Acquisitions. Therefore, upon the closing of this offering, you will become a holder of our common shares irrespective of whether the Pending Acquisitions are consummated or delayed. If this offering is consummated, our earnings per common share and our distributions per common share may be reduced. Also, the price of our common shares may decline to the extent that the current market price of our common shares reflects a market assumption that the Pending Acquisitions will be consummated and that we will realize certain anticipated benefits of the Pending Acquisitions.
The Pending Acquisitions may not achieve their intended benefits.
There can be no assurance that we will be able to successfully realize the expected benefits of the Pending Acquisitions. Our ability to realize the anticipated benefits of the Pending Acquisitions will depend, in part, on our ability to integrate the Pending Acquisitions with our existing business. Integrating the Pending Acquisitions and leveraging our existing property management platform to service these new properties and tenants will require significant time and focus from our management team and may divert attention from the day-to-day operations of the combined business, which could delay the achievement of our broader strategic objectives. In addition, the completion of the Pending Acquisitions and the integration of these new properties into our existing business may result in material unanticipated problems, expenses and liabilities as a result of a number of factors, including:
• | market conditions in the submarkets in which the Pending Acquisitions are located may result in higher than expected vacancy rates and lower than expected rental rates; |
• | the Pending Acquisitions may be subject to reassessment, which may result in higher than expected tax payments; |
• | we may have underestimated the costs to make any necessary improvements to the Pending Acquisitions; and |
S-8
• | we may encounter unanticipated problems, expenses and liabilities in connection with the development of the land parcels included in the Pending Acquisitions and, as a result, may be unable to realize the rental revenues expected to be received from the developable GLA on the timelines or at the rates we anticipate, if at all. |
Many of these risks will be outside of our control and any one of them could result in increased costs, decreases in the amount of expected revenue, lower than projected unlevered IRRs and diversion of our management team’s time and energy, which could adversely affect our business, financial condition, results of operations and/or cash flows.
We have not identified any specific use of the net proceeds of this offering in the event that the Pending Acquisitions are not consummated or the Purchase Agreements are terminated.
This offering of common shares is not conditioned upon the completion of the Pending Acquisitions. Consummation of the Pending Acquisitions is subject to a number of conditions and, if the Pending Acquisitions are not consummated or the Purchase Agreements are terminated for any reason, our board of trustees and management will have broad discretion in the application of the net proceeds from this offering. We have not identified a specific use for any such net proceeds if the Pending Acquisitions are not consummated or the Purchase Agreements are terminated. If the Pending Acquisitions are not consummated or the Purchase Agreements are terminated for any reason, we intend to use the net proceeds of this offering to repay outstanding indebtedness under our unsecured revolving credit facility and for general corporate purposes. The failure of our management to use such net proceeds effectively could have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations, including our earnings per share and distributions to our shareholders.
We will increase our concentration of properties in the Houston and Dallas metropolitan areas as a result of the Pending Acquisitions, which could have an adverse effect on our operations if the Houston or Dallas market is adversely affected by economic or other conditions.
As a result of the Pending Acquisitions, we will increase our concentration of properties in the Houston and Dallas areas. A majority of our assets and revenues are currently derived from properties located in the Houston and Phoenix metropolitan areas. As of December 31, 2016, on a pro forma basis giving effect to the Pending Acquisitions, approximately 29% of our wholly-owned GLA and 29% of our retail NOI would have been located in Houston, approximately 46% of our wholly-owned GLA and 42% of our retail NOI would have been located in Phoenix and approximately 11% of our wholly-owned GLA and 13% of our retail NOI would have been located in Dallas. Our results of operations are directly affected by our ability to attract financially sound commercial tenants. A significant economic downturn in Houston, including as a result of the recent or future significant decline in oil prices, Dallas or the Phoenix metropolitan area may adversely impact our ability to locate and retain financially sound tenants, could have an adverse impact on our existing tenants' revenues, costs and results of operations and may adversely affect their ability to meet their obligations to us. Likewise, we may be required to lower our rental rates to attract desirable tenants in such an environment. Consequently, because of the geographic concentration among our current assets, if the Houston, Dallas or Phoenix metropolitan area experiences an economic downturn, our operations and ability to make distributions to our shareholders could be adversely impacted. In addition, a substantial component of the Houston and Dallas economy is the oil and gas industry, and the current low prices of oil and natural gas could adversely affect companies in that industry and their employees, which could adversely affect the businesses of our Houston and Dallas tenants.
The market price and trading volume of our common shares may be volatile.
This offering represents a significant increase in our outstanding common shares. The per share trading price of our common shares may be volatile and could decline significantly in the future. In addition, the trading volume in our common shares may fluctuate and cause significant price variations to occur. If the per share trading price of our common shares declines significantly, you may be unable to resell your shares at or above the purchase price.
Some of the factors that could negatively affect our share price or result in fluctuations in the price or trading volume of our common shares include:
• | actual or anticipated variations in our quarterly operating results or dividends; |
• | changes in our earnings or FFO and FFO Core estimates or those of analysts and any failure to meet those estimates; |
• | our ability to successfully complete the Pending Acquisitions or any future acquisitions and, if completed, the ability of such newly acquired properties to perform as we expect; |
S-9
• | changes in our dividend policy; |
• | publication of research reports about us or the real estate industry; |
• | prevailing interest rates; |
• | the market for similar securities; |
• | changes in market valuations of similar companies; |
• | adverse market reaction to any additional debt we incur in the future; |
• | additions or departures of key management personnel; |
• | actions by institutional shareholders; |
• | speculation in the press or investment community; |
• | the realization of any of the other risk factors presented in or incorporated by reference in this prospectus supplement or the accompanying prospectus; |
• | the extent of investor interest in our securities; |
• | the general reputation of REITs and the attractiveness of our equity securities in comparison to other equity securities, including securities issued by other real estate-based companies; |
• | our underlying asset value; |
• | investor confidence in the stock and bond markets, generally; |
• | changes in tax laws; |
• | future equity issuances; |
• | failure to meet the REIT qualification requirements and maintain our REIT status; |
• | general economic and financial market conditions; |
• | our issuance of debt or preferred equity securities; and |
• | our financial condition, results of operations and prospects. |
In the past, securities class action litigation has often been instituted against companies following periods of volatility in the price of their common shares. This type of litigation could result in substantial costs and divert our management’s attention and resources, which could have an adverse effect on our financial condition, results of operations, cash flow and per share trading price of our common shares.
The number of our common shares available for future issuance or sale could adversely affect the per share trading price of our common shares.
We cannot predict whether future issuances or sales of our common shares or the availability of shares for resale in the open market will decrease the per share trading price of our common shares. This offering represents a significant increase in our outstanding common shares. The issuance of substantial numbers of our common shares in the public market or the perception that such issuances might occur, the exchange of OP units for common shares, the vesting of restricted shares granted to certain trustees, executive officers and other employees under our equity incentive plan, the issuance of our common shares or OP units in connection with future property, portfolio or business acquisitions and other issuances of our common shares could have an adverse effect on the per share trading price of our common shares. In addition, future issuances of our common shares may be dilutive to existing shareholders.
S-10
USE OF PROCEEDS
We estimate that our net proceeds from this offering will be approximately $ million (or approximately $ million if the underwriters exercise in full their option to purchase additional shares) after deducting estimated offering expenses payable by us. Any additional proceeds to us resulting from an increase in the number of shares offered pursuant to this prospectus supplement will be used by us as described below.
We will contribute the net proceeds of this offering to our operating partnership in exchange for OP units. Our operating partnership intends to use the net proceeds from this offering initially to repay a portion of outstanding indebtedness under our unsecured revolving credit facility, which amounts will then become available for future borrowings, including to fund a portion of the purchase price of the Pending Acquisitions, or for general corporate purposes.
As of April 19, 2017, $397.6 million was drawn on our unsecured revolving credit facility, and our remaining borrowing capacity was $102.4 million. Our unsecured revolving credit facility is comprised of four tranches: (a) $300 million unsecured revolving credit facility (the “Revolver”); (b) $50 million unsecured term loan (the “Term Loan 1”); (c) $50 million unsecured term loan (the “Term Loan 2”); and (d) $100 million unsecured term loan (the “Term Loan 3”). Our unsecured revolving credit facility includes an accordion feature that will allow us to increase the borrowing capacity to $700 million, upon the satisfaction of certain conditions. The Revolver will mature on October 30, 2019, with an option to extend for one additional year to October 30, 2020, subject to certain conditions, including payment of an extension fee. The Term Loan 1 will mature on October 30, 2020, the Term Loan 2 will mature on January 29, 2021, and the Term Loan 3 will mature on October 30, 2022. Borrowings under our revolving credit facility accrue interest (at our election) at a Base Rate or an Adjusted LIBOR based upon our then existing leverage. The applicable margin for Adjusted LIBOR borrowings ranges from 1.40% to 1.95% for the Revolver and 1.35% to 2.25% for Term Loan 1, Term Loan 2 and Term Loan 3. Base Rate means the higher of: (a) the administrative agent’s prime commercial rate, (b) the sum of (i) the average rate quoted by the administrative agent by two or more federal funds brokers selected by the administrative agent for sale to the administrative agent at face value of federal funds in the secondary market in an amount equal or comparable to the principal amount for which such rate is being determined, plus (ii) 1/2 of 1.00%, and (c) the LIBOR rate for such day plus 1.00%. Adjusted LIBOR means LIBOR divided by one minus the Eurodollar Reserve Percentage. The Eurodollar Reserve Percentage means the maximum reserve percentage at which reserves are imposed by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System on eurocurrency liabilities.
Affiliates of SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. and BMO Capital Markets Corp. are lenders under our unsecured revolving credit facility. As described above, our operating partnership intends to use the net proceeds from this offering initially to repay a portion of outstanding indebtedness under our unsecured revolving credit facility. As a result, these affiliates will receive their proportionate share of any amount of our unsecured revolving credit facility that is repaid with the net proceeds of this offering.
Pending application of any portion of the net proceeds, our operating partnership may invest the net proceeds from this offering in interest-bearing accounts and short-term, interest-bearing securities in a manner that is consistent with our intention to maintain our qualification as a REIT.
S-11
UNDERWRITING
SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. is acting as representative of each of the underwriters named below. Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in an underwriting agreement among us and the underwriters, we have agreed to sell to the underwriters, and each of the underwriters has agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase from us, the number of common shares set forth opposite its name below.
Underwriter | Number of Shares | |
SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. | ||
BMO Capital Markets Corp. | ||
JMP Securities LLC | ||
Wunderlich Securities, Inc. | ||
J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, LLC | ||
Janney Montgomery Scott LLC | ||
Ladenburg Thalmann & Co. Inc. | ||
Maxim Group LLC | ||
Total | 8,100,000 | |
Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the underwriting agreement, the underwriters have agreed, severally and not jointly, to purchase all of the shares sold under the underwriting agreement if any of these shares are purchased. If an underwriter defaults, the underwriting agreement provides that the purchase commitments of the non-defaulting underwriters may be increased or the underwriting agreement may be terminated.
We have agreed to indemnify the underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments the underwriters may be required to make in respect of those liabilities.
The underwriters are offering the shares, subject to prior sale, when, as and if issued to and accepted by them, subject to approval of legal matters by their counsel, including the validity of the shares, and other conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, such as the receipt by the underwriters of officer’s certificates and legal opinions. The underwriters reserve the right to withdraw, cancel or modify offers to the public and to reject orders in whole or in part.
Commissions and Discounts
The representative has advised us that the underwriters propose initially to offer the shares to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this prospectus and to dealers at that price less a concession not in excess of $ per share. After the initial offering, the public offering price, concession or any other term of the offering may be changed.
The following table shows the public offering price, underwriting discount and proceeds before expenses to us. The information assumes either no exercise or full exercise by the underwriters of their option to purchase additional shares.
Per Share | Without Option | With Option | ||
Public offering price | $ | $ | $ | |
Underwriting discount | $ | $ | $ | |
Proceeds, before expenses, to us | $ | $ | $ | |
The expenses of the offering, not including the underwriting discount, are estimated at approximately $130,000 and are payable by us.
S-12
Option to Purchase Additional Shares
We have granted an option to the underwriters, exercisable for 30 days after the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to 1,215,000 additional shares at the public offering price, less the underwriting discount. If the underwriters exercise this option, each will be obligated, subject to conditions contained in the underwriting agreement, to purchase a number of additional shares proportionate to that underwriter’s initial amount reflected in the above table.
No Sales of Similar Securities
We, our executive officers and trustees have agreed not to sell or transfer any common shares or securities convertible into, exchangeable for, exercisable for, or repayable with common shares, for 60 days after the date of this prospectus supplement without first obtaining the written consent of SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. Specifically, we and these other persons have agreed, with certain limited exceptions, not to directly or indirectly:
• | offer, pledge, sell or contract to sell any common shares, |
• | sell any option or contract to purchase any common shares, |
• | purchase any option or contract to sell any common shares, |
• | grant any option, right or warrant for the sale of any common shares, |
• | lend or otherwise dispose of or transfer any common shares, |
• | request or demand that we file a registration statement related to the common shares, or |
• | enter into any swap or other agreement that transfers, in whole or in part, the economic consequence of ownership of any common shares whether any such swap or transaction is to be settled by delivery of shares or other securities, in cash or otherwise, |
other than the common shares to be sold hereunder, our issuance of common shares, or the filing of a registration statement registering such shares, with respect to the conversion of OP units outstanding on the date of the underwriting agreement, grants of share options, restricted common shares or restricted common share units pursuant to our 2008 Long-Term Equity Incentive Ownership Plan, provided that none of such securities will vest or become exercisable, as applicable, during the 60-day restricted period without the representative’s prior written consent, the filing of a registration statement or the issuance of common shares pursuant to a dividend reinvestment plan, the issuance of common shares or OP units as consideration for the acquisition of real estate assets or any post-effective amendment to a registration statement on Form S-8 effective on the date of the underwriting agreement, or, with respect to certain of our trustees and executive officers, the sale of up to an aggregate of 85,971 common shares pledged as collateral to secure obligations as of the date of this prospectus supplement in the event a lender forecloses on such common shares.
This lock-up provision applies to common shares and to securities convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable for or repayable with common shares. It also applies to common shares owned now or acquired later by the person executing the agreement or for which the person executing the agreement later acquires the power of disposition.
New York Stock Exchange Listing
The shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “WSR.”
Price Stabilization, Short Positions
Until the distribution of the shares is completed, SEC rules may limit underwriters and selling group members from bidding for and purchasing our common shares. However, the representative may engage in transactions that stabilize the price of the common shares, such as bids or purchases to peg, fix or maintain that price.
S-13
In connection with the offering, the underwriters may purchase and sell our common shares in the open market. These transactions may include short sales, purchases on the open market to cover positions created by short sales and stabilizing transactions. Short sales involve the sale by the underwriters of a greater number of shares than they are required to purchase in the offering. “Covered” short sales are sales made in an amount not greater than the underwriters’ option to purchase additional shares described above. The underwriters may close out any covered short position by either exercising their option to purchase additional shares or purchasing shares in the open market. In determining the source of shares to close out the covered short position, the underwriters will consider, among other things, the price of shares available for purchase in the open market as compared to the price at which they may purchase shares through the option granted to them. “Naked” short sales are sales in excess of such option. The underwriters must close out any naked short position by purchasing shares in the open market. A naked short position is more likely to be created if the underwriters are concerned that there may be downward pressure on the price of our common shares in the open market after pricing that could adversely affect investors who purchase in the offering. Stabilizing transactions consist of various bids for or purchases of common shares made by the underwriters in the open market prior to the completion of the offering.
Similar to other purchase transactions, the underwriters’ purchases to cover the syndicate short sales may have the effect of raising or maintaining the market price of our common shares or preventing or retarding a decline in the market price of our common shares. As a result, the price of our common shares may be higher than the price that might otherwise exist in the open market. The underwriters may conduct these transactions on the NYSE, in the over-the-counter market or otherwise.
Neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation or prediction as to the direction or magnitude of any effect that the transactions described above may have on the price of our common shares. In addition, neither we nor any of the underwriters make any representation that the representative will engage in these transactions or that these transactions, once commenced, will not be discontinued without notice.
Electronic Distribution
In connection with the offering, certain of the underwriters or securities dealers may distribute prospectuses by electronic means, such as e-mail.
Other Relationships
Some of the underwriters and their affiliates have engaged in, and may in the future engage in, investment banking and other commercial dealings in the ordinary course of business with us or our affiliates. They have received, or may in the future receive, customary fees and commissions for these transactions. Affiliates of SunTrust Robinson Humphrey, Inc. and BMO Capital Markets Corp. are lenders under our unsecured revolving credit facility. As described herein, our operating partnership intends to use a portion of the net proceeds from this offering to repay outstanding borrowings under our unsecured revolving credit facility. As a result, these affiliates will receive their proportionate share of any amount of our unsecured revolving credit facility that is repaid with the net proceeds of this offering. See “Use of Proceeds.”
In addition, in the ordinary course of their business activities, the underwriters and their affiliates may make or hold a broad array of investments and actively trade debt and equity securities (or related derivative securities) and financial instruments (including bank loans) for their own account and for the accounts of their customers. Such investments and securities activities may involve securities and/or instruments of ours or our affiliates. The underwriters and their affiliates may also make investment recommendations and/or publish or express independent research views in respect of such securities or financial instruments and may hold, or recommend to clients that they acquire, long and/or short positions in such securities and instruments.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Australia
No placement document, prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document has been lodged with the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (“ASIC”), in relation to the offering. This prospectus supplement does not constitute a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act 2001 (the “Corporations Act”), and does not purport to include the information required for a prospectus, product disclosure statement or other disclosure document under the Corporations Act.
S-14
Any offer in Australia of the common shares may only be made to persons (the “Exempt Investors”) who are “sophisticated investors” (within the meaning of section 708(8) of the Corporations Act), “professional investors” (within the meaning of section 708(11) of the Corporations Act) or otherwise pursuant to one or more exemptions contained in section 708 of the Corporations Act so that it is lawful to offer the common shares without disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act.
The common shares applied for by Exempt Investors in Australia must not be offered for sale in Australia in the period of 12 months after the date of allotment under the offering, except in circumstances where disclosure to investors under Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act would not be required pursuant to an exemption under section 708 of the Corporations Act or otherwise or where the offer is pursuant to a disclosure document which complies with Chapter 6D of the Corporations Act. Any person acquiring the common shares must observe such Australian on-sale restrictions.
This prospectus supplement contains general information only and does not take account of the investment objectives, financial situation or particular needs of any particular person. It does not contain any securities recommendations or financial product advice. Before making an investment decision, investors need to consider whether the information in this prospectus supplement is appropriate to their needs, objectives and circumstances, and, if necessary, seek expert advice on those matters.
Notice to Prospective Investors in the Dubai International Financial Centre
This prospectus supplement relates to an Exempt Offer in accordance with the Offered Securities Rules of the Dubai Financial Services Authority (“DFSA”). This prospectus supplement is intended for distribution only to persons of a type specified in the Offered Securities Rules of the DFSA. It must not be delivered to, or relied on by, any other person. The DFSA has no responsibility for reviewing or verifying any documents in connection with Exempt Offers. The DFSA has not approved this prospectus nor taken steps to verify the information set forth herein and has no responsibility for the prospectus supplement. The common shares to which this prospectus supplement relates may be illiquid and/or subject to restrictions on their resale. Prospective purchasers of the common shares offered should conduct their own due diligence on the common shares. If you do not understand the contents of this prospectus supplement you should consult an authorized financial advisor.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Hong Kong
The common shares have not been offered or sold and will not be offered or sold in Hong Kong, by means of any document, other than (a) to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance (Cap. 571) of Hong Kong and any rules made under that Ordinance; or (b) in other circumstances which do not result in the document being a “prospectus” as defined in the Companies Ordinance (Cap. 32) of Hong Kong or which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning of that Ordinance. No advertisement, invitation or document relating to the common shares has been or may be issued or has been or may be in the possession of any person for the purposes of issue, whether in Hong Kong or elsewhere, which is directed at, or the contents of which are likely to be accessed or read by, the public of Hong Kong (except if permitted to do so under the securities laws of Hong Kong) other than with respect to the common shares which are or are intended to be disposed of only to persons outside Hong Kong or only to “professional investors” as defined in the Securities and Futures Ordinance and any rules made under that Ordinance.
Notice to Prospective Investors in Canada
The common shares may be sold only to purchasers purchasing, or deemed to be purchasing, as principal that are accredited investors, as defined in National Instrument 45-106 Prospectus Exemptions or subsection 73.3(1) of the Securities Act (Ontario), and are permitted clients, as defined in National Instrument 31-103 Registration Requirements, Exemptions and Ongoing Registrant Obligations. Any resale of the common shares must be made in accordance with an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the prospectus requirements of applicable securities laws.
Securities legislation in certain provinces or territories of Canada may provide a purchaser with remedies for rescission or damages if this prospectus supplement (including any amendment thereto) contains a misrepresentation, provided that the remedies for rescission or damages are exercised by the purchaser within the time limit prescribed by the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory. The purchaser should refer to any applicable provisions of the securities legislation of the purchaser’s province or territory for particulars of these rights or consult with a legal advisor.
Pursuant to section 3A.3 (or, in the case of securities issued or guaranteed by the government of a non-Canadian jurisdiction, section 3A.4) of National Instrument 33-105 Underwriting Conflicts (NI 33-105), the underwriters are not required to comply with the disclosure requirements of NI 33-105 regarding underwriter conflicts of interest in connection with this offering.
S-15
Notice to Prospective Investors in the United Kingdom
In addition, in the United Kingdom, this document is being distributed only to, and is directed only at, and any offer subsequently made may only be directed at persons who are “qualified investors” (as defined in the Prospectus Directive) (i) who have professional experience in matters relating to investments falling within Article 19 (5) of the Financial Services and Markets Act 2000 (Financial Promotion) Order 2005, as amended (the “Order”) and/or (ii) who are high net worth companies (or persons to whom it may otherwise be lawfully communicated) falling within Article 49(2)(a) to (d) of the Order (all such persons together being referred to as “relevant persons”). This document must not be acted on or relied on in the United Kingdom by persons who are not relevant persons. In the United Kingdom, any investment or investment activity to which this document relates is only available to, and will be engaged in with, relevant persons.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain matters of Maryland law, including the validity of the common shares sold in this offering, will be passed upon for us by Morrison & Foerster LLP. Hunton & Williams LLP has represented the underwriters.
EXPERTS
Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C., independent registered public accounting firm, has audited the consolidated financial statements of Whitestone REIT appearing in Whitestone REIT’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016, and the effectiveness of Whitestone REIT’s and its subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2016, as set forth in their report. We have incorporated by reference the aforementioned financial statements in this prospectus supplement, and audited financial statements to be included in subsequently filed documents will be incorporated herein by reference, in reliance upon the reports of Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C., and upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
The SEC allows us to “incorporate by reference” the information we file with it, which means that we can disclose important information to you by referring you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is considered to be part of this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus and the information we file subsequently with the SEC prior to the completion of this offering will automatically update and supersede this information.
We previously filed the following documents with the SEC and such filings are incorporated by reference into this prospectus:
• | Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2016 (including portions of our definitive proxy statement on Schedule 14A for our 2017 Annual Meeting of Shareholders incorporated therein by reference); |
• | Current Reports on Form 8-K filed on April 29, 2016, March 17, 2017 and April 19, 2017; and |
• | the description of our common shares contained in our Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed on June 25, 2012, including any amendment or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description. |
We also incorporate by reference into this prospectus additional documents that we may file with the SEC under Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, from the date of this prospectus until all of the securities offered by this prospectus have been sold or we otherwise terminate the offering of these securities, including all filings made after the date of the initial filing of the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part and prior to the effectiveness of the registration statement; provided, however, that information “furnished” under Item 2.02 or Item 7.01 of Form 8-K or other information “furnished” to the SEC is not deemed filed and not incorporated by reference in this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus. Information that we subsequently file with the SEC will automatically update and may supersede information in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus and information previously filed with the SEC.
You may request a copy of these filings (other than exhibits, unless the exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into these documents) at no cost by writing or calling Investor Relations at the following address and telephone number:
S-16
Whitestone REIT
2600 South Gessner, Suite 500
Houston, Texas 77063
(713) 435-2221
S-17
PROSPECTUS
$750,000,000
Common Shares
Preferred Shares
Debt Securities
Depositary Shares
Subscription Rights
________________________________________________
Preferred Shares
Debt Securities
Depositary Shares
Subscription Rights
________________________________________________
We may offer, from time to time, one or more series or classes of common shares of beneficial interest, par value $0.001 per share, or common shares, preferred shares of beneficial interest par value $0.001 per share, or preferred shares, debt securities, depositary shares and subscription rights. We refer to our common shares, preferred shares, debt securities, depositary shares and subscription rights collectively as the “securities.”
We may offer securities with an aggregate public offering price of up to $750,000,000, or its equivalent in a foreign currency based on the exchange rate at the time of sale, in amounts, at prices and on terms determined at the time of the offering. We may offer the securities separately or together, in separate series or classes and in amounts, at prices and on terms described in one or more supplements to this prospectus.
We will deliver this prospectus together with an accompanying prospectus supplement setting forth the specific terms of the securities we are offering. The accompanying prospectus supplement also will contain additional information, where applicable, about U.S. federal income tax considerations relating to, and any listing on a securities exchange of, the securities covered by the prospectus supplement. In addition, the specific terms may include limitations on direct or beneficial ownership and restrictions on transfer of the securities offered by this prospectus, in each case as may be appropriate to preserve our status as a real estate investment trust, or REIT, for federal income tax purposes.
We may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. If underwriters, dealers or agents are involved in the sale of any of the securities, their names, and any applicable purchase price, fee, commission or discount arrangement with, between or among them, will be set forth, or will be calculable from the information set forth, in an accompanying prospectus supplement. For more detailed information, see “Plan of Distribution” in this prospectus. No securities may be sold without delivery of an accompanying prospectus supplement describing the method and terms of the offering of those securities.
Our common shares are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, or NYSE, under the symbol “WSR.” On April 28, 2015, the last reported sale price of our common stock on the NYSE was $15.52. Our corporate offices are located at 2600 South Gessner, Suite 500, Houston, Texas 77063 and our telephone number is (713) 827-9595.
______________________
Investing in our securities involves substantial risks. See “Risk Factors” on page 2 of this prospectus, as well as the “Risk Factors” incorporated by reference herein from our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other reports and information that we file with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
______________________
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities commission has approved or disapproved of these securities or passed upon the accuracy or adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
______________________
The date of this prospectus is May 18, 2015.
Page | |
No dealer, salesperson or other person is authorized to give any information or to represent anything not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus we may provide you in connection with an offering of securities. You must not rely on any unauthorized information or representations not contained or incorporated by reference in this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus. This prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities other than the registered securities to which they relate, nor does this prospectus, any accompanying supplement to this prospectus or any free writing prospectus constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy securities in any jurisdiction to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation in such jurisdiction. The information contained in this prospectus, any prospectus supplement to this prospectus, any free writing prospectus or the documents incorporated by reference herein or therein are accurate only as of the date of such document. Our business, financial condition, liquidity, results of operations, funds from operations and prospects may have changed since those dates.
ABOUT THIS PROSPECTUS
This prospectus is part of a registration statement on Form S-3 that we filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, or the SEC, using a “shelf” registration process for the delayed offering and sale of securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or the Securities Act. Under the shelf registration process, we may, over time, sell any combination of the securities described in this prospectus in one or more offerings. This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities that we may offer. As allowed by SEC rules, this prospectus does not contain all the information you can find in the registration statement or the exhibits to the registration statement. We will not use this prospectus to offer and sell securities unless it is accompanied by a prospectus supplement that more fully describes the securities being offered and the terms of the offering. Any accompanying prospectus supplement or free writing prospectus may also add to, update or supersede other information contained in this prospectus. Before purchasing any securities, you should carefully read this prospectus, any prospectus supplement and any free writing prospectus together with the information incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein as described under the heading “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus. All references to “we,” “our,” “us,” and the “Company” in this prospectus mean Whitestone REIT and its consolidated subsidiaries, including Whitestone REIT Operating Partnership, L.P., or our Operating Partnership, which is a Delaware limited partnership formed by us on December 31, 1998, except where it is made clear that the term means only Whitestone REIT.
FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
This prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, including the documents incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement, contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or the Exchange Act. Forward-looking statements provide our current expectations or forecasts of future events and are not statements of historical fact. These forward-looking statements include information about possible or assumed future events, including, among other things, discussion and analysis of our financial condition, anticipated capital expenditures required to complete projects, amounts of anticipated cash distributions to our shareholders in the future and other matters. These forward-looking statements are not historical facts but are the intent, belief or current expectations of our management based on its knowledge and understanding of our business and industry. Forward-looking statements are typically identified by the use of terms such as “may,” “will,” “should,” “potential,” “predicts,” “anticipates,” “expects,” “intends,” “plans,” “believes,” “seeks,” “estimates” or the negative of such terms and variations of these words and similar expressions, although not all forward-looking statements include these words. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and are subject to risks, uncertainties and other factors, some of which are beyond our control, are difficult to predict and could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or forecasted in the forward-looking statements.
Forward-looking statements that were true at the time made may ultimately prove to be incorrect or false. You are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. We undertake no obligation to update or revise forward-looking statements to reflect changed assumptions, the occurrence of unanticipated events or changes to future operating results. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from any forward-looking statements made in or incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement include:
• | the imposition of federal taxes if we fail to qualify as a REIT in any taxable year or forego an opportunity to ensure REIT status; |
• | uncertainties related to the national economy, the real estate industry in general and in our specific markets; |
• | legislative or regulatory changes, including changes to laws governing REITs; |
• | adverse economic or real estate developments in Texas, Arizona or Illinois; |
• | increases in interest rates and operating costs; |
• | availability and terms of capital and financing, both to fund our operations and to refinance our indebtedness as it matures; |
• | decreases in rental rates or increases in vacancy rates; |
1
• | litigation risks; |
• | lease-up risks, including leasing risks arising from exclusivity and consent provisions in leases with significant tenants; |
• | our inability to renew tenant leases or obtain new tenants upon the expiration of existing leases; |
• | our inability to generate sufficient cash flows due to market conditions, competition, uninsured losses, changes in tax or other applicable laws; and |
• | the need to fund tenant improvements or other capital expenditures out of operating cash flow. |
The forward-looking statements should be read in light of these factors and the factors identified in the “Risk Factors” incorporated by reference into this prospectus and any accompanying prospectus supplement from our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other reports and information that we file with the SEC.
2
WHITESTONE REIT
We are a fully integrated real estate company that owns and operates commercial properties in culturally diverse markets in major metropolitan areas. Founded in 1998, we are internally managed with a portfolio of commercial properties in Texas, Arizona and Illinois.
In October 2006, our current management team joined the Company and adopted a strategic plan to acquire, redevelop, own and operate Community Centered Properties. We define Community Centered Properties as visibly located properties in established or developing culturally diverse neighborhoods in our target markets. We market, lease, and manage our centers to match tenants with the shared needs of the surrounding neighborhood. Those needs may include specialty retail, grocery, restaurants, medical, educational and financial services. Our goal is for each property to become a Whitestone-branded business center or retail community that serves a neighboring five-mile radius around our property. We employ and develop a diverse group of associates who understand the needs of our multicultural communities and tenants.
We conduct our business in an umbrella partnership REIT, or UPREIT, structure pursuant to which all of our properties are owned and operated by our Operating Partnership (or wholly owned subsidiaries thereof). We serve as the general partner of our Operating Partnership. As the general partner of the Operating Partnership, we have the exclusive power to manage and conduct the business of the Operating Partnership, subject to certain customary exceptions. Units of limited partnership interests in our Operating Partnership, or OP Units, are redeemable at the option of OP Unit holders for cash based on the then-current value of one common share or, at our sole option, common shares on a one-for-one basis. In our UPREIT structure we have the ability to acquire properties on a tax-deferred basis to the sellers of such properties utilizing OP Units as consideration.
Our executive offices are currently located at 2600 South Gessner, Suite 500, Houston, Texas 77063, and our telephone number is (713) 827-9595. Our website can be accessed at www.whitestonereit.com. However, the information located on, or accessible from, our website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, a part of this prospectus, any accompanying prospectus supplement or any free writing prospectus or incorporated into any other filings that we make with the SEC.
RISK FACTORS
Investment in any securities offered pursuant to this prospectus involves substantial risks. Before acquiring securities from us, you should carefully consider the risk factors incorporated by reference to our most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K, our subsequent Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and the other information contained in this prospectus, as updated by our subsequent filings under the Exchange Act, and the risk factors and other information contained in any accompanying prospectus supplement. The occurrence of any of these risks might cause you to lose all or part of your investment in the offered securities. Please also refer to the section entitled “Forward-Looking Statements” in this prospectus.
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERENCE DIVIDENDS
Our ratios of earnings to combined fixed charges and preference dividends for the years ended December 31, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 and 2014 are set forth below. For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to combined fixed charges and preference dividends, earnings consist of pre-tax net income (loss) from continuing operations plus fixed charges less capitalized interest. Fixed charges include interest expense, capitalized interest and amortization of premiums, discounts, and deferred financing costs related to debt.
Year Ended December 31, | ||||||||||
2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 | 2014 | ||||||
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges (1) | 1.22 | 1.11 | 1.01 | 1.39 | 1.53 | |||||
(1) The Company did not have any preferred shares outstanding for the periods presented.
3
USE OF PROCEEDS
Unless we specify otherwise in an accompanying prospectus supplement, we intend to use the net proceeds from the sale of securities by us for general corporate purposes, which may include acquisitions of additional properties, the repayment of outstanding indebtedness, capital expenditures, the expansion, redevelopment and/or improvement of properties in our portfolio, working capital and other general purposes. Any allocation of the net proceeds of an offering of securities to a specific purpose will be determined at the time of such offering and will be described in an accompanying prospectus supplement.
4
DESCRIPTION OF SHARES
General
We are organized as a REIT under the laws of the state of Maryland. Rights of our shareholders are governed by Maryland law, including the statute governing REITs formed under the laws of that state, or the Maryland REIT law, our declaration of trust and our bylaws. The following description of the terms of our shares is not complete, but is a summary. For a complete description, we refer you to Maryland law and our declaration of trust and bylaws. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”
Authorized Shares
Our declaration of trust provides that we may issue up to 400,000,000 common shares of beneficial interest, $0.001 par value per share, and up to 50,000,000 preferred shares, $0.001 par value per share. In addition, our board of trustees, without any action by our shareholders, may amend our declaration of trust from time to time to increase or decrease the aggregate number of shares or the number of shares of any class or series that we have authority to issue. As of April 27, 2015, we had 23,232,760 common shares outstanding and no preferred shares outstanding.
Pursuant to Maryland law and our declaration of trust, no shareholder will be liable for any debt, claim, demand, judgment or obligation of any kind of, against or with respect to us by reason of being a shareholder, nor shall any shareholder be subject to any personal liability whatsoever, in tort, contract or otherwise, to any person in connection with our property or affairs by reason of his being a shareholder.
Common Shares
Subject to the preferential rights of any other class or series of shares of beneficial interest and to the provisions of our declaration of trust regarding the restrictions on ownership and transfer of shares of beneficial interest, holders of our common shares are entitled to receive distributions when authorized by our board of trustees and declared by us out of assets legally available for the payment of distributions, and to share ratably in our assets legally available for distribution to our shareholders in the event of our liquidation, dissolution or winding up, after payment of or adequate provision for all of our known debts and liabilities. All of these rights are subject to the preferential rights of any other class or series of our shares and to the provisions of our declaration of trust regarding restrictions on ownership and transfer of our shares.
Subject to the provisions of our declaration of trust regarding restrictions on transfer and ownership of our shares, and except as may otherwise be specified in the terms of any class or series of common shares, each outstanding common share entitles the holder to one vote on all matters submitted to a vote of shareholders, including the election of trustees. There is no cumulative voting in the election of trustees, which means that the holders of our common shares entitled to cast a majority of all the votes entitled to be cast can elect all of the trustees then standing for election, and the holders of the remaining shares will not be able to elect any trustees.
Holders of our common shares have no preference, conversion, exchange, sinking fund or redemption rights, have no preemptive rights to subscribe for any of our securities and generally have no appraisal rights unless our board of trustees determines that appraisal rights apply, with respect to all or any classes or series of shares, to one or more transactions occurring after the date of such determination in connection with which shareholders would otherwise be entitled to exercise appraisal rights.
Preferred Shares
Preferred shares may be issued from time to time, in one or more series, as authorized by the board of trustees. Prior to the issuance of any preferred shares, our board of trustees is required by Maryland law and by our declaration of trust to designate the series to distinguish it from all other classes and series of shares, specify the number of shares to be included in the series, and set the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption for each such series.
If we offer preferred shares, the accompanying prospectus supplement will describe each of the following terms that may be applicable in respect of any preferred shares offered and issued pursuant to this prospectus:
• | the specific designation, number of shares, seniority and purchase price; |
5
• | any liquidation preference per share; |
• | any maturity date; |
• | any mandatory or optional redemption or repayment dates and terms or sinking fund provisions; |
• | any dividend rate or rates and the dates on which any dividends will be payable (or the method by which such rates or dates will be determined); |
• | any voting rights; |
• | any rights to convert the preferred shares into other securities or rights, including a description of the securities or rights into which such preferred shares are convertible (which may include other preferred shares) and the terms and conditions upon which such conversions will be effected, including, without limitation, conversion rates or formulas, conversion periods and other related provisions; |
• | the place or places where dividends and other payments with respect to the preferred shares will be payable; and |
• | any additional voting, dividend, liquidation, redemption and other rights, preferences, privileges, limitations and restrictions, including restrictions imposed for the purpose of maintaining our qualification as a REIT under the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code. |
Power to Reclassify Our Shares
Our declaration of trust authorizes our board of trustees to classify and reclassify any of our unissued common shares and preferred shares into other classes or series of shares. Prior to issuance of classified or reclassified shares of each class or series, our board of trustees is required by Maryland law and by our declaration of trust to designate the class or series to distinguish it from all other classes and series of shares, specify the number of shares to be included in the class or series, and set the terms, preferences, conversion or other rights, voting powers, restrictions, limitations as to dividends or other distributions, qualifications and terms or conditions of redemption for each class or series. Thus, our board of trustees could authorize the issuance of common or preferred shares with terms and conditions that could have the effect of delaying, deferring or preventing a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for holders of our common shares or otherwise be in their best interest.
Power to Issue Additional Common Shares and Preferred Shares
We believe that the power of our board of trustees, without shareholder approval, to amend our declaration of trust from time to time to increase the aggregate number of shares or the number of shares of any class or series that we have authority to issue, to issue additional common shares or preferred shares, and to classify or reclassify unissued common or preferred shares and thereafter to cause us to issue such classified or reclassified shares provides us with flexibility in structuring possible future financings and acquisitions and in meeting other needs that might arise. These actions can be taken without shareholder approval, unless shareholder approval is required by applicable law or the rules of any stock exchange or automated quotation system on which our securities may be listed or traded. Although our board of trustees does not have a present intention of doing so, it could authorize us to issue a class or series of shares that could, depending upon the terms of the particular class or series, delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control in the Company that might involve a premium price for holders of our common shares or otherwise be in their best interest.
Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer
In order for us to qualify as a REIT under the Code, our shares must be beneficially owned by 100 or more persons during at least 335 days of a taxable year of twelve months or during a proportionate part of a shorter taxable year. Also, not more than 50% of the value of our outstanding shares may be owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals (as defined in the Code to include certain entities such as qualified pension plans) during the last half of a taxable year. These requirements do not apply to the first year for which an election to be a REIT is made.
6
Our declaration of trust contains restrictions on the number of our shares that a person may own. Unless otherwise exempted by the board of trustees (as described below), no person or persons acting as a group may acquire or hold, directly or indirectly, more than 9.8% (by value or by number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of our outstanding common shares or more than 9.8% (by value or by number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the outstanding shares of any class or series of our preferred shares.
Our declaration of trust further prohibits (i) any person from owning our shares if that ownership would result in our being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code or otherwise cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT and (ii) any person from transferring our shares if the transfer would result in our shares being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons. Any person who acquires or intends to acquire any of our shares that may violate any of these restrictions, or who is the intended transferee of our shares that are transferred to the trust for the charitable beneficiary, as described below, is required to give us immediate written notice or, in the case of a proposed or attempted transaction, 15 days prior written notice and provide us with such information as we may request in order to determine the effect of the transfer on our status as a REIT. The above restrictions will not apply if our board of trustees determines that it is no longer in our best interests to continue to qualify as a REIT.
Our board of trustees may, in its sole discretion, exempt, prospectively or retroactively, a person from the 9.8% ownership limits. However, the board of trustees may not exempt a person unless, among other information, such person submits to the board of trustees information satisfactory to the board of trustees, in its reasonable discretion, demonstrating that (i) such person is not an individual, (ii) no individual would be considered to beneficially own shares in excess of the 9.8% ownership limits by reason of the exemption of such person from the 9.8% ownership limits and (iii) the exemption of such person from the 9.8% ownership limits will not cause us to fail to qualify as a REIT. The person also must agree that any violation or attempted violation of these restrictions will result in the automatic transfer of the shares causing the violation to the trust for the charitable beneficiary, as described below. Our board of trustees may require a ruling from the Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, or an opinion of counsel in order to determine or ensure our status as a REIT or that compliance is no longer required for REIT qualification.
Any attempted transfer of our shares that, if effective, would result in our shares being beneficially owned by fewer than 100 persons will be null and void and the proposed transferee will not acquire any rights in the shares. Any attempted transfer of our shares that, if effective, would result in violation of the 9.8% ownership limits discussed above or in our being “closely held” under Section 856(h) of the Code or otherwise failing to qualify as a REIT will cause the number of shares causing the violation (rounded to the nearest whole share) to be automatically transferred to a trust for the exclusive benefit of one or more charitable beneficiaries, and the proposed transferee will not acquire any rights in the shares. The automatic transfer will be deemed to be effective as of the close of business on the Business Day (as defined in the declaration of trust) prior to the date of the transfer. Shares held in the trust for the charitable beneficiary will be issued and outstanding shares. The proposed transferee will not benefit economically from ownership of any shares held in that trust, will have no rights to dividends or other distributions and no rights to vote or other rights attributable to the shares held in that trust. The trustee of the trust for the charitable beneficiary will have all voting rights and rights to dividends or other distributions with respect to shares held in that trust. These rights will be exercised for the exclusive benefit of the charitable beneficiary. Any dividend or other distribution paid prior to our discovery that the shares have been transferred to the trust for the charitable beneficiary will be paid by the recipient to the trustee upon demand. Any dividend or other distribution authorized but unpaid will be paid when due to the trustee. Any dividend or other distribution paid to the trustee will be held in trust for the charitable beneficiary. Subject to Maryland law, the trustee will have the authority (i) to rescind as void any vote cast by the proposed transferee prior to our discovery that the shares have been transferred to the trust and (ii) to recast the vote in accordance with the desires of the trustee acting for the benefit of the charitable beneficiary. However, if we have already taken irreversible corporate action, then the trustee will not have the authority to rescind and recast the vote.
7
Within 20 days of receiving notice from us that any of our shares have been transferred to the trust for the charitable beneficiary, the trustee will sell those shares to a person designated by the trustee, whose ownership of the shares will not violate the above ownership limitations. Upon the sale, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in the shares sold will terminate, and the trustee will distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the proposed transferee and to the charitable beneficiary as follows. The proposed transferee will receive the lesser of (i) the price paid by the proposed transferee for the shares or, if the proposed transferee did not give value for the shares in connection with the event causing the shares to be held in the trust (e.g., a gift, devise or other similar transaction), the Market Price (as defined in our declaration of trust) of the shares on the day of the event causing the shares to be held in the trust and (ii) the price received by the trustee from the sale or other disposition of the shares. Any net sale proceeds in excess of the amount payable to the proposed transferee will be paid immediately to the charitable beneficiary. lf, prior to our discovery that shares have been transferred to the trust, the shares are sold by the proposed transferee, then (i) the shares shall be deemed to have been sold on behalf of the trust and (ii) to the extent that the proposed transferee received an amount for the shares that exceeds the amount he was entitled to receive, the excess shall be paid to the trustee upon demand.
In addition, shares held in the trust for the charitable beneficiary will be deemed to have been offered for sale to us, or our designee, at a price per share equal to the lesser of (i) the price per share in the transaction that resulted in the transfer to the trust (or, in the case of a devise or gift, the Market Price at the time of the devise or gift) and (ii) the Market Price on the date we, or our designee, accept the offer. We will have the right to accept the offer until the trustee has sold the shares. Upon a sale to us, the interest of the charitable beneficiary in the shares sold will terminate and the trustee will distribute the net proceeds of the sale to the proposed transferee.
All certificates evidencing our shares will bear a legend referring to the restrictions described above.
Every owner of more than five percent (or such lower percentage as required by the Code or the regulations promulgated thereunder) of our outstanding shares, within 30 days after the end of each taxable year, is required to give us written notice, stating his, her or its name and address, the number of shares of each class and series of our shares which he, she or it beneficially owns and a description of the manner in which the shares are held. Each such owner shall provide us with such additional information as we may request in order to determine the effect, if any, of his, her or its beneficial ownership on our status as a REIT and to ensure compliance with the ownership limits. In addition, each shareholder shall upon demand be required to provide us with such information as we may request in good faith in order to determine our status as a REIT and to comply with the requirements of any taxing authority or governmental authority or to determine such compliance.
These ownership limits could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control in the Company that might involve a premium price for the holders of some, or a majority, of our outstanding common shares or which such holders might believe to be otherwise in their best interests.
Transfer Agent and Registrar
The transfer agent and registrar for our common shares is American Stock Transfer and Trust Company, LLC.
Certain provisions of Maryland law and of Our Declaration of Trust and Bylaws
The following is a summary of certain provisions of Maryland law and of our declaration of trust and bylaws and does not purport to be complete and is subject to and qualified in its entirety by reference to Maryland law and our declaration of trust and bylaws, copies of which are exhibits to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part. See “Where You Can Find More Information.”
General. Our declaration of trust provides a perpetual existence and permits us to be terminated upon the affirmative vote of the holders of a majority of the outstanding shares entitled to vote and the approval of a majority of the entire board of trustees. Our bylaws require us to conduct annual meetings of our shareholders for the purpose of electing trustees, each of whom will serve for a three-year term, and to transact any other business as may properly come before the shareholders.
Our Board of Trustees. Our declaration of trust provides that the number of our trustees may be determined pursuant to our bylaws, and our bylaws provide that such number may be established, increased or decreased by the board of trustees but may not be fewer than one or more than fifteen. Our board of trustees is divided into three classes, with each trustee holding office for three years and until his successor is duly elected and qualifies. Any vacancy may be filled only by the affirmative vote of a majority of the remaining trustees in office, even if the remaining trustees do not constitute a quorum, and any trustee elected to fill a vacancy will serve for the remainder of the full term of the trusteeship in which the vacancy occurred.
8
The board of trustees is responsible for the management of our business and affairs. We currently have a total of five members on our board of trustees. Of our five current trustees, four are considered independent trustees. Each trustee will serve until the annual meeting of shareholders at which his three-year term ends and until his successor has been duly elected and qualifies. Although the number of trustees may be increased or decreased, a decrease will not have the effect of shortening the term of any incumbent trustee. Any trustee may resign at any time and may be removed for cause by the shareholders upon the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the shares then outstanding and entitled to vote generally in the election of trustees.
Our trustees must perform their duties in good faith and in a manner reasonably believed to be in our best interests. Further, trustees must act with such care as an ordinarily prudent person in a like position would use under similar circumstances, including exercising reasonable inquiry, when taking actions. Our declaration of trust provides that a trustee may be removed only for cause upon the affirmative vote of not less than two-thirds of the shares then outstanding and entitled to vote generally in the election of trustees. This provision, when coupled with the exclusive power of our board of trustees to fill vacancies on the board of trustees, precludes shareholders from (i) removing incumbent trustees except for cause upon a substantial affirmative vote and (ii) filling the vacancies created by such removal with their own nominees.
Business Combinations. Under Maryland law, “business combinations” between a Maryland REIT and an interested shareholder or an affiliate of an interested shareholder are prohibited for five years after the most recent date on which the interested shareholder becomes an interested shareholder. These business combinations include a merger, consolidation, share exchange, or, in circumstances specified in the statute, certain transfers of assets, certain share issuances and transfers, liquidation plans and reclassifications involving interested shareholders and their affiliates. An interested shareholder is defined as:
• | any person who beneficially owns ten percent or more of the voting power of the trust’s outstanding voting shares; or |
• | an affiliate or associate of the trust who, at any time within the two-year period prior to the date in question, was the beneficial owner of ten percent or more of the voting power of the then-outstanding shares of the trust. |
A person is not an interested shareholder under the statute if the board of trustees of the trust approved in advance the transaction by which the person otherwise would have become an interested shareholder. However, in approving a transaction, the board of trustees may provide that its approval is subject to compliance, at or after the time of approval, with any terms and conditions determined by the board of trustees.
After the five-year prohibition, any business combination between a Maryland REIT and an interested shareholder generally must be recommended by the board of trustees of the trust and approved by the affirmative vote of at least:
• | 80% of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of the then-outstanding voting shares of the trust; and |
• | two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast by holders of voting shares of the trust other than shares held by the interested shareholder with whom or with whose affiliate the business combination is to be effected or shares held by an affiliate or associate of the interested shareholder. |
These super-majority vote requirements do not apply if the trust’s common shareholders receive a minimum price, as defined under Maryland law, for their shares in the form of cash or other consideration in the same form as previously paid by the interested shareholder for its shares.
The statute permits various exemptions from its provisions, including business combinations that are exempted by the board of trustees of the trust before the time that the interested shareholder becomes an interested shareholder. Pursuant to the statute, our board of trustees has exempted any business combination involving the Company and any person. Consequently, the five-year prohibition and the super-majority vote requirements will not apply to business combinations between the Company and any person. As a result, any person may be able to enter into business combinations with us that may not be in the best interest of our shareholders, without compliance with the super-majority vote requirements and the other provisions of the statute.
Should our board of trustees later resolve to opt back into these provisions, the business combination statute may discourage others from trying to acquire control of the Company and increase the difficulty of consummating any offer.
9
Control Share Acquisitions. Maryland law provides that “control shares” of a Maryland REIT acquired in a “control share acquisition” have no voting rights except to the extent approved by a vote of two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast on the matter. Shares owned by the acquiror, by officers or by employees who are trustees of the trust are excluded from shares entitled to vote on the matter. “Control shares” are voting shares which, if aggregated with all other shares owned by the acquiror or in respect of which the acquiror is able to exercise or direct the exercise of voting power (except solely by virtue of a revocable proxy), would entitle the acquiror to exercise voting power in electing trustees within one of the following ranges of voting power:
• | one-tenth or more but less than one-third; |
• | one-third or more but less than a majority; or |
• | a majority or more of all voting power. |
Control shares do not include shares the acquiring person is then entitled to vote as a result of having previously obtained shareholder approval. A “control share acquisition” means the acquisition of issued and outstanding control shares, subject to certain exceptions.
A person who has made or proposes to make a control share acquisition may compel the board of trustees of the trust to call a special meeting of shareholders to be held within 50 days of demand to consider the voting rights of the shares. The right to compel the calling of a special meeting is subject to the satisfaction of certain conditions, including an undertaking to pay the expenses of the meeting. If no request for a meeting is made, the trust may itself present the question at any shareholders’ meeting.
If voting rights are not approved at the meeting or if the acquiring person does not deliver an acquiring person statement as required by the statute, then the trust may redeem for fair value any or all of the control shares, except those for which voting rights have previously been approved. The right of the trust to redeem control shares is subject to certain conditions and limitations. Fair value is determined, without regard to the absence of voting rights for the control shares, as of the date of the last control share acquisition by the acquiror or of any meeting of shareholders at which the voting rights of the shares are considered and not approved. If voting rights for control shares are approved at a shareholders meeting and the acquiror becomes entitled to vote a majority of the shares entitled to vote, all other shareholders may exercise appraisal rights. The fair value of the shares as determined for purposes of appraisal rights may not be less than the highest price per share paid by the acquiror in the control share acquisition.
The control share acquisition statute does not apply (i) to shares acquired in a merger, consolidation or share exchange if the trust is a party to the transaction, or (ii) to acquisitions approved or exempted by the declaration of trust or bylaws of the trust.
The control share acquisition statute may discourage others from trying to acquire control of us and increase the difficulty of consummating any offer.
Subtitle 8. Subtitle 8 of Title 3 of the Maryland General Corporation Law permits a Maryland REIT with a class of equity securities registered under the Exchange Act and at least three independent trustees to elect to be subject, by provision in its declaration of trust or bylaws or a resolution of its board of trustees and notwithstanding any contrary provision in the declaration of trust or bylaws, to any or all of five provisions:
• | a classified board; |
• | two-thirds vote requirement for removing a trustee; |
• | a requirement that the number of trustees be fixed only by vote of the trustees; |
• | a requirement that a vacancy on the board be filled only by the remaining trustees and for the remainder of the full term of the class in which the vacancy occurred until a successor is elected and qualifies; and |
• | a majority requirement for the calling of a special meeting of shareholders. |
10
Our bylaws already provide that, except as may be provided by our board of trustees in setting the terms of any class or series of preferred shares, any vacancy on the board of trustees may be filled only by a majority of the remaining trustees, even if the remaining trustees do not constitute a quorum, and any trustee elected to fill a vacancy will serve for the remainder of the full term of the trusteeship in which the vacancy occurred and until a successor is elected and qualifies. Pursuant to Subtitle 8, we have elected to be subject to the remaining provisions described above.
Amendments to Our Declaration of Trust and Bylaws. Our declaration of trust may be amended by a majority of the trustees, without any action by the shareholders (i) to qualify as a REIT under the Code or under the Maryland REIT Law, (ii) in any respect in which the charter of a corporation may be amended under the Maryland General Corporation Law, and (iii) as otherwise provided in our declaration of trust. All other amendments must be declared advisable by our board of trustees and approved by the affirmative vote of holders of a majority of all shares entitled to vote on the matter, except that any amendment to the provisions of our declaration of trust addressing the removal of trustees and certain amendments to our declaration of trust must be approved by the affirmative vote of holders of two-thirds of all shares entitled to vote on the matter. Our board of trustees has the exclusive power to adopt, amend and repeal any provision of our bylaws or to make new bylaws.
Meetings and Special Voting Requirements. An annual meeting of our shareholders will be held each year. Special meetings of shareholders may be called by the chairman of our board of trustees, a majority of our trustees, our chief executive officer or our president and must be called by or at the direction of our chief executive officer upon the written request of shareholders entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast on any matter that may properly be considered at a meeting of shareholders. Upon receipt of such written request and other required information, our chief executive officer will inform the requesting shareholders of the estimated cost of preparing and mailing a notice, payment for which must be received prior to the mailing of any notice. Our board of trustees must designate a date for the special meeting within ten days of receiving the request, or if it does not, the date will be the 90th day after the record date, and the record date, unless otherwise set by our board of trustees within 30 days of receiving the request, will be the 30th day after the date of delivery of the request. The presence, either in person or by proxy, of shareholders entitled to cast a majority of all votes entitled to be cast will constitute a quorum at any meeting of shareholders. Generally, the affirmative vote of a majority of the votes cast at a meeting at which a quorum is present is sufficient to take shareholder action, except that the approval of shareholders entitled to cast at least two-thirds of the votes entitled to be cast is required remove a trustee or to amend the declaration of trust provisions addressing the removal of trustees and the vote required for certain amendments to our declaration of trust, and the affirmative vote of shareholders entitled to cast at least a majority of the votes entitled to be cast is required for:
• | any other amendment of our declaration of trust, except that our board of trustees may amend our declaration of trust without shareholder approval to increase or decrease the aggregate number of our shares or the number of our shares of any class or series that we have the authority to issue, to qualify as a REIT under the Code or the Maryland REIT Law or in any respect in which the charter of a Maryland corporation may be amended without shareholder approval; |
• | except as permitted by law, any merger, consolidation or sale or other disposition of all or substantially all of our assets (which also requires the approval of our board of trustees); and |
• | our termination (which also must be approved by action of our board of trustees). |
Advance Notice of Trustee Nominations and New Business. Our bylaws provide that with respect to an annual meeting of shareholders, nominations of individuals for election to our board of trustees and the proposal of business to be considered by shareholders may be made only (i) pursuant to our notice of the meeting, (ii) by or at the direction of our board of trustees or (iii) by a shareholder who is a shareholder of record both at the time of giving the advance notice required by our bylaws and at the time of the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated or on any such other business and who has complied with the advance notice procedures of the bylaws. With respect to special meetings of shareholders, only the business specified in our notice of the meeting may be brought before the meeting, unless otherwise provided by law. Nominations of individuals for election to the board of trustees at a special meeting may be made only (i) by or at the direction of the board of trustees, or (ii) provided that the meeting has been called in accordance with our bylaws for the purpose of electing trustees, by a shareholder who is a shareholder of record both at the time of giving the advance notice required by our bylaws and at the time of the meeting, who is entitled to vote at the meeting in the election of each individual so nominated and who has complied with the advance notice provisions of the bylaws.
11
Anti-Takeover Effect of Certain Provisions of Maryland Law and our Declaration of Trust and Bylaws. The business combination provisions of Maryland law (if our board of trustees opts back into them), the control share acquisition provisions of Maryland law, the classification of our board of trustees, the two-thirds vote and cause requirements for removing a trustee, the restrictions on transfer and ownership of shares in our declaration of trust, and the advance notice provisions of our bylaws could delay, defer or prevent a transaction or a change in control that might involve a premium price for our common shares or otherwise be in the best interest of our shareholders.
Ownership Limit. Our declaration of trust provides that no person or entity may beneficially own, or be deemed to own by virtue of the applicable constructive ownership provisions of the Code, more than 9.8% (by value or by number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of our outstanding common shares or more than 9.8% (by value or by number of shares, whichever is more restrictive) of the outstanding shares of any class or series of our preferred shares. We refer to these restrictions as the “ownership limits.” For a fuller description of this restriction and the constructive ownership rules, see “Description of Shares – Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer.”
Limited Liability and Indemnification of Trustees, Officers, Employees and Other Agents. Maryland law also permits us to include in our declaration of trust a provision limiting the liability of our trustees and officers to us and our shareholders for money damages, except for liability resulting from (i) actual receipt of an improper benefit or profit in money, property or services or (ii) active and deliberate dishonesty established by a final judgment and that is material to the cause of action. Our declaration of trust contains a provision that eliminates trustees’ and officers’ liability to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law.
Maryland law permits a Maryland REIT to indemnify and advance expenses to its trustees, officers, employees and agents to the same extent as permitted for directors and officers of Maryland corporations. Maryland law permits a corporation to indemnify its present and former directors and officers, among others, against judgments, penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by them in connection with any proceeding to which they may be made or threatened to be made a party by reason of their service in those or other capacities unless it is established that:
• | the act or omission of the director or officer was material to the matter giving rise to the proceeding and (i) was committed in bad faith or (ii) was the result of active and deliberate dishonesty; |
• | the director or officer actually received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services; or |
• | in the case of any criminal proceeding, the director or officer had reasonable cause to believe that the act or omission was unlawful. |
However, a Maryland corporation may not indemnify for an adverse judgment in a suit by or in the right of the corporation or for a judgment of liability on the basis that personal benefit was improperly received, unless in either case a court orders indemnification and then only for expenses. In addition, Maryland law permits a corporation to advance reasonable expenses to a director or officer upon the corporation’s receipt of:
• | a written affirmation by the director or officer of his or her good faith belief that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification by the corporation; and |
• | a written undertaking by the director or officer or on the director’s or officer’s behalf to repay the amount paid or reimbursed by the corporation if it is ultimately determined that the standard of conduct was not met. |
Our declaration of trust authorizes our Company, to the maximum extent permitted by Maryland law, to obligate itself to indemnify any present or former trustee or officer or any individual who, while a trustee or officer and at our request, serves or has served another REIT, corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise as a trustee, director, officer, partner, employee or agent, against any claim or liability arising from that status and to pay or reimburse their reasonable expenses in advance of final disposition of a proceeding. Our bylaws obligate us to provide such indemnification and advance of expenses. Our declaration of trust and bylaws also permit us to indemnify and advance expenses to any person who served our predecessor in any of the capacities described above and any employee or agent of us or our predecessor.
Our Operating Partnership must indemnify us and our trustees and officers from any liability, loss, cost or damage incurred by us and our trustees and officers by reason of anything done or refrained from in connection with our Operating Partnership, except for any liability, loss, cost or damage incurred as a result of fraud, willful misconduct or gross negligence.
12
In addition, the partnership agreement expressly limits our liability by providing that we shall not be liable or accountable to our Operating Partnership for anything in the absence of fraud, willful misconduct, or gross negligence and breaches of the partnership agreement, and we shall not be liable to our Operating Partnership for money damages except (i) for active and deliberate dishonesty established by a final judgment, order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction, or (ii) if the indemnified party received an improper personal benefit in money, property or services.
13
DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
We may issue debt securities under one or more trust indentures to be executed by us and a specified trustee. The terms of the debt securities will include those stated in the indenture and those made a part of the indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, or the Trust Indenture Act. The indentures will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.
The following description sets forth certain anticipated general terms and provisions of the debt securities to which an accompanying prospectus supplement may relate. The particular terms of the debt securities offered by an accompanying prospectus supplement (which terms may be different than those stated below) and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may apply to the debt securities so offered will be described in the prospectus supplement relating to such debt securities. Accordingly, for a description of the terms of a particular issue of debt securities, investors should review both the accompanying prospectus supplement relating thereto and the following description. A form of the indenture (as discussed herein) has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement of which this prospectus is a part.
The debt securities will be our direct obligations and may be either senior debt securities or subordinated debt securities. The indebtedness represented by subordinated securities will be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of our senior debt (as defined in the applicable indenture).
Except as set forth in the applicable indenture and described in an accompanying prospectus supplement relating thereto, the debt securities may be issued without limit as to aggregate principal amount, in one or more series, secured or unsecured, in each case as established from time to time in or pursuant to authority granted by a resolution of the board of trustees or as established in the applicable indenture. All debt securities of one series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a series may be reopened, without the consent of the holders of the debt securities of such series, for issuance of additional debt securities of such series.
The accompanying prospectus supplement relating to any series of debt securities being offered will contain their specific terms, including, without limitation:
• | their title and whether they are senior securities or subordinated securities; |
• | their initial aggregate principal amount and any limit on their aggregate principal amount; |
• | the percentage of the principal amount at which they will be issued and, if other than 100% of the principal amount, the portion of the principal amount payable upon declaration of acceleration of their maturity; |
• | the terms, if any, upon which they may be convertible or exchangeable into our common shares, other securities or other property and the terms and conditions upon which a conversion or exchange will be effected, including the initial conversion or exchange price or rate and the conversion or exchange period, any adjustments to the foregoing and any requirements relative to the reservation of shares for purposes of conversion or exchange; |
• | if convertible or exchangeable, any applicable limitations on the ownership or transferability of the common shares or preferred shares into which they are convertible or exchangeable; |
• | the date or dates, or the method for determining the date or dates, on which the principal will be payable; |
• | the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable), or the method for determining the rate or rates, at which they will bear interest, if any; |
• | the date or dates, or the method for determining the date or dates, from which any interest will accrue, the interest payment dates on which any interest will be payable, the regular record dates for the interest payment dates, or the method by which the date will be determined and the basis upon which interest will be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months; |
• | the place or places where the principal (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, will be payable, or the method of such payment, if by wire transfer, mail or other means; |
• | the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which they may be redeemed, as a whole or in part, at our option, if we are to have the option; |
14
• | our obligation, if any, to redeem, repay or purchase them pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provision or at the option of a holder, and the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which they will be redeemed, repaid or purchased, as a whole or in part, pursuant to this obligation; |
• | if other than U.S. dollars, the currency or currencies in which they are denominated and in which any payments of principal (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, are payable, which may be a foreign currency or units of two or more foreign currencies or a composite currency or currencies, and the related terms and conditions; |
• | whether the payments of principal (and premium, if any) or interest, if any, may be determined with reference to an index, formula or other method (which index, formula or method may, but need not be, based on a currency, currencies, currency unit or units or composite currencies) and the manner in which the amounts will be determined; |
• | any additions to, modifications of or deletions from their terms with respect to the events of default, to the rights of the trustee or the holders to declare the principal amount thereof due and payable, or to the covenants, in each case as set forth in the indenture; |
• | any provisions for collateral security for their repayment; |
• | any provisions relating to guarantees; |
• | any trustees, depositories, interest rate calculation agents, exchange rate calculation agents or other agents; |
• | whether they will be issued in certificated or book-entry form; |
• | the date any temporary global security will be dated if other than the date of original issuance of the first security of such series to be issued; |
• | if issued in definitive form only upon receipt of certain certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, the form and/or terms of such certificates, documents or conditions; |
• | if to be issued upon the exercise of debt warrants, the time, manner and place to be authenticated and delivered; |
• | the denominations if other than $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof; |
• | the applicability, if any, of defeasance and covenant defeasance provisions of the applicable indenture; |
• | whether and under what circumstances we will pay additional amounts as contemplated in the applicable indenture in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge and, if so, whether we will have the option to redeem them in lieu of making the payment; and |
• | any other terms and any deletions from or modifications or additions to the applicable indenture. |
The debt securities may provide for less than the entire principal amount thereof to be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof. Special federal income tax, accounting and other considerations applicable to debt securities will be described in the accompanying prospectus supplement.
The applicable indenture may contain provisions that would limit our ability to incur indebtedness or that would afford holders of debt securities protection in the event of a highly leveraged or similar transaction involving us or in the event of a change of control.
Restrictions on ownership and transfer of our common shares and preferred shares are designed to preserve our status as a REIT and, therefore, may act to prevent or hinder a change of control. See “Description Of Shares – Restrictions on Ownership and Transfer” in this prospectus. Investors should review the accompanying prospectus supplement for information with respect to any deletions from, modifications of or additions to the events of default or covenants that are described below, including any addition of a covenant or other provision providing event risk or similar protection.
15
Merger, Consolidation or Sale
The applicable indenture will provide that we may consolidate with or merge into, or convey, transfer or lease all or substantially all of our properties and assets to any other person (as defined therein), provided that:
• | we are the continuing trust, or the successor person (if other than the Company) formed by or resulting from any consolidation or merger or which has received the transfer of our assets will be organized and validly existing under the laws of any U.S. domestic jurisdiction and expressly assumes our obligations on the applicable debt securities and under the indenture; |
• | immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no event of default under the applicable indenture, and no event which, after notice or the lapse of time, or both, would become an event of default, will have occurred and be continuing; and |
• | an officer’s certificate and legal opinion covering these conditions will be delivered to the trustee. |
Covenants
The applicable indenture will contain covenants requiring us to take certain actions and prohibiting us from taking certain actions. The covenants with respect to any series of debt securities will be described in the accompanying prospectus supplement.
Events of Default, Notice and Waiver
Each indenture will describe specific “events of default” with respect to a series of debt securities issued under the indenture. These “events of default” are likely to include (with grace and cure periods):
• | our failure to pay any installment of interest; |
• | our failure to pay the principal (or premium, if any) at maturity; |
• | our failure to make any required sinking fund payment; |
• | our breach of any other covenant or warranty contained in the applicable indenture (other than a covenant added to the indenture solely for the benefit of a different series of debt securities); and |
• | certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, or court appointment of a receiver, liquidator or trustee of us or any substantial part of our property. |
If an event of default resulting from certain events of bankruptcy described in the indenture occurs, all outstanding debt securities of that series will become due and payable immediately. If any other event of default under any indenture with respect to debt securities of any series at the time outstanding occurs and is continuing, then the applicable trustee or the holders of not less than 25% of the principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or, if the debt securities of that series are original issue discount securities or indexed securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms thereof) of all the debt securities of that series to be due and payable immediately by written notice thereof to us (and to the applicable trustee if given by the holders). However, at any time after such a declaration of acceleration with respect to debt securities of such series (or of all debt securities then outstanding under any indenture, as the case may be) has been made, the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of outstanding debt securities of such series (or of all debt securities then outstanding under the applicable indenture, as the case may be) may rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences if:
• | the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree; and |
• | all events of default, other than the non-payment of accelerated principal, interest or premium (or specified portion thereof), with respect to debt securities of such series (or of all debt securities then outstanding under the applicable indenture, as the case may be) have been cured or waived as provided in such indenture. |
16
Each indenture also will provide that the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series (or of all debt securities then outstanding under the applicable indenture, as the case may be) may waive any past default with respect to the series and its consequences, except a:
• | continuing payment default; or |
• | covenant default that cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding debt security affected thereby. |
Each trustee will be required to give notice to the holders of debt securities within a certain number of days of a default under the applicable indenture unless the default has been cured or waived; provided, however, that the trustee may withhold notice to the holders of any series of debt securities of any default with respect to the series (except a default in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any debt security of the series or in the payment of any sinking fund installment in respect of any debt security of the series) if specified responsible officers of the trustee consider withholding the notice to be in the interest of the holders.
Each indenture will prohibit the holders of debt securities of any series from instituting any proceedings, judicial or otherwise, with respect to the indenture or for any remedy thereunder, except in the case of failure of the applicable trustee, for a certain period of time after the trustee has received a written request to institute proceedings in respect of an event of default from the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of such series, as well as the furnishing of indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it. This provision will not prevent any holder of debt securities from instituting a suit to enforce the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the debt securities at the respective due dates thereof.
Subject to the indenture, no trustee will be under any obligation to exercise any of its rights or powers under an indenture at the request or direction of any holders of any series of debt securities then outstanding, unless the holders furnish the trustee thereunder reasonable security or indemnity. The holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series (or of all debt securities then outstanding under an indenture, as the case may be) will have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the applicable trustee, or of exercising any trust or power conferred upon the trustee. However, a trustee may refuse to follow any direction, which is in conflict with any law or the applicable indenture, which may involve the trustee in personal liability or which may be unduly prejudicial to the holders of debt securities of such series not joining therein.
Within a certain period of time of the close of each fiscal year, we will be required to deliver to each trustee, a certificate, signed by one of several specified officers, stating whether or not the officer has knowledge of any default under the applicable indenture and, if so, specifying each default and the nature and status thereof.
Modification of the Indenture
The indenture will likely provide that it may be modified or amended, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of each series of the outstanding debt securities issued under the indenture affected by the modification or amendment, provided that no modification or amendment may, without the consent of each affected holder of the debt securities:
• | change the stated maturity date or reduce the amount of the principal of (or premium, if any) or reduce the rate of interest or change the time for payment of any installment of interest, if any, on the debt securities; |
• | change the currency of payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the debt securities; |
• | waive a default or event of default in the payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on the debt securities (other than as described in the indenture); |
• | waive a redemption payment, if any, or alter or waive any of the provisions in the indenture with respect to redemption; |
• | reduce the above-stated percentage of holders of the debt securities necessary to modify or amend the indenture; or |
17
• | modify the foregoing requirements or reduce the percentage of the outstanding debt securities necessary to waive compliance with certain provisions of the indenture or for waiver of certain defaults. |
A record date may be set for any act of the holders with respect to consenting to any amendment.
The holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of each series affected thereby will have the right to waive our compliance with certain covenants in the indenture. Each indenture will contain provisions for convening meetings of the holders of debt securities of a series to take permitted action. Under certain circumstances, we and the trustee may make modifications and amendments to an indenture without the consent of any holders of outstanding debt securities.
Redemption of Debt Securities
The debt securities may be redeemed at any time at our option, in whole or in part, to protect our status as a REIT. The debt securities may also be subject to optional or mandatory redemption on terms and conditions described in the applicable accompanying prospectus supplement.
Conversion of Debt Securities
The terms and conditions, if any, upon which any debt securities are convertible or into our common shares or preferred shares will be set forth in the applicable accompanying prospectus supplement. The terms will include:
• | whether the debt securities are convertible into our common shares or preferred shares; |
• | the conversion price (or the manner of calculating the price); |
• | the conversion period; |
• | the events requiring an adjustment to the conversion price and provisions affecting conversion if the debt securities are redeemed; and |
• | any restrictions on conversion. |
Subordination
Upon any distribution to our creditors in a liquidation, dissolution or reorganization, the payment of the principal of and interest on any subordinated securities will be subordinated to the extent provided in the applicable indenture to the prior payment in full of all senior securities. No payment of principal or interest will be permitted to be made on subordinated securities at any time if any payment default or any other default which permits accelerations exists. After all senior securities are paid in full and until the subordinated securities are paid in full, holders of subordinated securities will be subrogated to the right of holders of senior securities to the extent that distributions otherwise payable to holders of subordinated securities have been applied to the payment of senior securities. By reason of any subordination, in the event of a distribution of assets upon our insolvency, some of our general creditors may recover more, ratably, than holders of subordinated securities. The accompanying prospectus supplement or the information incorporated herein by reference will contain the approximate amount of senior securities outstanding as of the end of our most recent fiscal quarter.
Global Debt Securities
The debt securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in global form. The global securities will be deposited with a depositary, or with a nominee for a depositary, identified in the accompanying prospectus supplement. In this case, one or more global securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate principal amount of outstanding debt securities of the series to be represented by the global security or securities. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities in definitive form, a global security may not be transferred except as a whole by the depositary for the global security to a nominee of the depositary or by a nominee of the depositary to the depositary or another nominee of the depositary or by the depositary or any nominee to a successor of the depositary or a nominee of the successor.
18
The specific material terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any portion of a series of debt securities to be represented by a global security will be described in the applicable accompanying prospectus supplement. We anticipate that the following provisions will apply to all depositary arrangements.
Upon the issuance of a global security, the depositary for the global security will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective principal amounts of the debt securities represented by the global security to the accounts of persons or participants that have accounts with the depositary. The accounts to be credited will be designated by any underwriters or agents participating in the distribution of the debt securities. Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be limited to participants or persons that may hold interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in the global security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the depositary for the global security, with respect to interests of participants, or by participants or persons that hold through participants, with respect to interests of persons other than participants. So long as the depositary for a global security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of the global security, the depositary or the nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the debt securities represented by the global security for all purposes under the indenture; provided, however, that for purposes of obtaining any consents or directions required to be given by the holders of the debt securities, we, the trustee and our agents will treat a person as the holder of the principal amount of debt securities as specified in a written statement of the depositary. Except as set forth herein or otherwise provided in the accompanying prospectus supplement, owners of beneficial interests in a global security will not be entitled to have the debt securities represented by the global security registered in their names, will not receive physical delivery of the debt securities in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the indenture.
Principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on debt securities represented by a global security registered in the name of a depositary or its nominee will be made to the depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the global security. Neither we, the trustee nor any paying agent for the debt securities will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in the global security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to the beneficial ownership interests.
We expect that the depositary for any debt securities represented by a global security, upon receipt of any payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest will immediately credit participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of the global security as shown on the records of the depositary. We also expect that payments by participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of customers registered in “street names” and will be the responsibility of the participants.
If the depositary for any debt securities represented by a global security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as depositary and a successor depositary is not appointed by us within the period of time set forth in the indenture, we will issue the debt securities in definitive form in exchange for the global security. In addition, we may at any time, and in our sole discretion, determine not to have any of the debt securities of a series represented by one or more global securities and, in that event, will issue debt securities of the series in definitive form in exchange for all of the global security or securities representing the debt securities.
The laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of the securities in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in debt securities represented by global securities.
Governing Law
The indenture and the debt securities will be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.
19
DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
General
We may issue depositary shares, each of which will represent a fractional interest of a particular class or series of our preferred shares, as specified in an accompanying prospectus supplement, which will more fully describe the terms of those depositary shares. Shares of a class or series of preferred shares represented by depositary shares will be deposited under a separate deposit agreement among us, the depositary named therein and the holders from time to time of the depositary receipts issued by the depositary, which will evidence the depositary shares. Subject to the terms of the deposit agreement, each owner of a depositary receipt will be entitled, in proportion to the fractional interest of a preferred share of a particular class or series represented by the depositary shares evidenced by that depositary receipt, to all the rights and preferences of the class or series of the preferred shares represented by those depositary shares (including dividend, voting, conversion, redemption and liquidation rights).
The depositary shares to be issued will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued pursuant to the applicable deposit agreement.
Immediately following the issuance and delivery of a class or series of preferred shares by us to the depositary, we will cause the depositary to issue, on our behalf, the depositary receipts. The following description of the depositary shares, and any description of the depositary shares in an accompanying prospectus supplement, may not be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the underlying deposit agreement and the depositary receipt, which we will file with the SEC at or prior to the time of the sale of the depositary shares, as well as our charter, including articles supplementary relating to the applicable class or series of our preferred shares. You should refer to, and read this summary together with, the deposit agreement and related depositary receipt. For more information on how to obtain copies of any form of deposit agreement or other agreement pursuant to which the depositary shares are issued, see “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus.
Dividends and Other Distributions
The depositary will distribute all cash dividends or other cash distributions received in respect of our preferred shares to the record holders of depositary shares relating to such preferred shares in proportion to the number of such depositary shares owned by such holders. The depositary shall distribute only such amount, however, as can be distributed without attributing to any holder of depositary shares a fraction of one cent, and the balance not so distributed shall be added to and treated as part of the next sum received by the depositary for distribution to record holders of depositary shares.
In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the depositary will distribute property received by it to the record holders of depositary shares entitled thereto, subject to certain obligations of the holders to file proofs, certificates and other information and to pay certain charges to the depositary, unless the depositary determines that it is not feasible to make such distribution, in which case the depositary may, with our approval, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from such sale to such holders.
The deposit agreement will also contain provisions relating to the manner in which any subscription or similar rights offered by us to holders of our preferred shares shall be made available to the holders of depositary shares.
Redemption of Depositary Shares
If a series of preferred shares represented by depositary shares is subject to redemption, the depositary shares will be redeemed from the proceeds received by the depositary resulting from the redemption, in whole or in part, of such series of preferred shares held by the depositary. The redemption price per depositary share will be equal to the applicable fraction of the redemption price per share payable with respect to such series of preferred shares. Whenever we redeem preferred shares held by the depositary, the depositary will redeem as of the same redemption date the number of depositary shares representing the preferred shares so redeemed. If fewer than all the depositary shares are to be redeemed, the depositary shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro rata (as nearly as may be possible without creating fractional depositary shares) or by any other equitable method as may be determined by us.
After the date fixed for redemption, the depositary shares so called for redemption will no longer be outstanding and all rights of the holders of the depositary shares will cease, except the right to receive the money, securities or other property payable upon such redemption and any money, securities or other property to which the holders of such depositary shares were entitled upon such redemption upon surrender to the depositary of the depositary receipts evidencing such depositary shares.
20
Voting Our Preferred Shares
Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which the holders of preferred shares are entitled to vote, the depositary will mail the information contained in such notice of meeting to the record holders of the depositary shares relating to such preferred shares. Each record holder of such depositary shares on the record date (which will be the same date as the record date for our preferred shares) will be entitled to instruct the depositary as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the number of preferred shares represented by such holder’s depositary shares. The depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the number of preferred shares represented by such depositary shares in accordance with such instructions, and we will agree to take all action which may be deemed necessary by the depositary in order to enable the depositary to do so. The depositary may abstain from voting preferred shares to the extent it does not receive specific instructions from the holders of depositary shares representing such preferred shares.
Amendment and Termination of the Deposit Agreement
The form of depositary receipt evidencing the depositary shares and any provision of the deposit agreement may at any time be amended by agreement between the depositary and us. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters the rights of the holders of depositary shares will not be effective unless such amendment has been approved by the holders of at least a majority of the depositary shares then outstanding. The deposit agreement may be terminated by us upon not less than 30 days’ prior written notice to the preferred shares depositary if (i) such termination is necessary to preserve our status as a REIT or (ii) a majority of each series of our preferred shares affected by such termination consents to such termination, whereupon the depositary shall deliver or make available to each holder of depositary shares, upon surrender of the depositary shares held by such holder, such number of whole or fractional shares of our preferred shares as are represented by the depositary shares together with any other property held by the depositary with respect to such depositary shares. We have agreed that if the deposit agreement is terminated to preserve our status as a REIT, then we will use our best efforts to list the preferred shares issued upon surrender of the related depositary shares on a national securities exchange. In addition, the deposit agreement will automatically terminate if (i) all outstanding depositary shares have been redeemed, (ii) there has been a final distribution in respect of our preferred shares in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company and such distribution has been distributed to the holders of depositary receipts or (iii) each related share of our preferred shares shall have been converted into our securities not so represented by depositary shares.
Charges of Depositary
We will pay all transfer and other taxes and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary arrangements. We will pay charges of the depositary in connection with the initial deposit of our preferred shares and any redemption of our preferred shares.
Holders of depositary receipts will pay other transfer and other taxes and governmental charges and such other charges, including a fee for the withdrawal of preferred shares upon surrender of depositary receipts, as are expressly provided in the deposit agreement to be for their accounts.
Miscellaneous
The depositary will forward to holders of depositary receipts all reports and communications from us that are delivered to the depositary and that we are required to furnish to holders of preferred shares.
Neither the depositary nor the Company will be liable if it is prevented or delayed by law or any circumstance beyond its control in performing its obligations under the deposit agreement. The obligations of the depositary and us under the deposit agreement will be limited to performance in good faith of their respective duties thereunder and they will not be obligated to prosecute or defend any legal proceeding in respect of any depositary shares or preferred shares unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. They may rely upon written advice of counsel or accountants, or upon information provided by persons presenting preferred shares for deposit, holders of depositary receipts or other persons believed to be competent and on documents believed to be genuine.
21
Resignation and Removal of the Depositary
The depositary may resign at any time by delivering to us notice of its election to do so, and we may at any time remove the depositary, any such resignation or removal to take effect upon the appointment of a successor depositary and its acceptance of such appointment. Such successor depositary must be appointed within 60 days after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its principal office in the United States and that meets certain combined capital and surplus requirements.
Restrictions on Ownership
The deposit agreement will contain provisions restricting the ownership and transfer of depositary shares. Such restrictions will be described in the applicable prospectus supplement and will be referenced on the applicable depositary receipts.
DESCRIPTION OF SUBSCRIPTION RIGHTS
We may issue subscription rights, including to our existing security holders, to purchase one or more series or classes of common shares, preferred shares, debt securities and depositary shares. We may issue subscription rights independently or together with any other offered security, which may or may not be transferable by the shareholder. In connection with any offering of subscription rights, we may enter into a standby arrangement with one or more underwriters or other purchasers pursuant to which the underwriters or other purchasers may be required to purchase any securities remaining unsubscribed for after such offering.
The accompanying prospectus supplement relating to any subscription rights we may offer will contain the specific terms of the subscription rights. These terms may include the following:
• | the price, if any, for the subscription rights; |
• | the exercise price payable for common shares, preferred shares, debt securities or depositary shares upon the exercise of the subscription rights; |
• | the number of subscription rights issued to each security holder; |
• | the number and terms of the common shares, preferred shares, debt securities or depositary shares which may be purchased per each subscription right; |
• | the extent to which the subscription rights are transferable; |
• | any provisions for adjustment of the number or amount of securities receivable upon exercise of the subscription rights or the exercise price of the subscription rights; |
• | any other terms of the subscription rights, including the terms, procedures and limitations relating to the exchange and exercise of the subscription rights; |
• | the date on which the right to exercise the subscription rights shall commence, and the date on which the subscription rights shall expire; |
• | the extent to which the subscription rights may include an over-subscription privilege with respect to unsubscribed securities; and |
• | if applicable, the material terms of any standby underwriting or purchase arrangement entered into by us in connection with the offering of subscription rights. |
22
Each series of subscription rights will be issued under a separate rights agreement to be entered into between us and a bank or trust company, as rights agent, all as set forth in the prospectus supplement relating to the particular issue of subscription rights. The rights agent will act solely as our agent in connection with the certificates relating to the subscription rights of such series and will not assume any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of subscription rights certificates or beneficial owners of subscription rights. The description in the applicable accompanying prospectus supplement of any subscription rights we offer will not necessarily be complete and will be qualified in its entirety by reference to the applicable subscription rights certificate or subscription rights agreement, which will be filed with the SEC if we offer subscription rights. For more information on how you can obtain copies of any subscription rights certificate or subscription rights agreement if we offer subscription rights, see “Where You Can Find More Information” in this prospectus. We urge you to read the applicable subscription rights certificate, the applicable subscription rights agreement and any applicable prospectus supplement in their entirety.
BOOK ENTRY PROCEDURES AND SETTLEMENT
We may issue the securities offered pursuant to this prospectus in certificated or book-entry form or in the form of one or more global securities. The applicable accompanying prospectus supplement will describe the manner in which the securities offered thereby will be issued.
23
MATERIAL U.S. FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
This section summarizes the material U.S. federal income tax considerations that you, as a prospective investor, may consider relevant in connection with the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our common shares and our election to be taxed as a REIT. As used in this section, the terms “we” and “our” refer solely to Whitestone REIT and not to our subsidiaries and affiliates, which have not elected to be taxed as REITs for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
This discussion does not exhaust all possible tax considerations and does not provide a detailed discussion of any state, local or foreign tax considerations. Nor does this discussion address all aspects of U.S. federal income taxation that may be relevant to particular investors in light of their personal investment or tax circumstances, or to certain types of investors that are subject to special treatment under the U.S. federal income tax laws, such as insurance companies, tax-exempt organizations (except to the limited extent discussed below under “—Taxation of Tax-Exempt Shareholders”), financial institutions, broker-dealers, persons subject to the alternative minimum tax, persons holding our shares as part of a hedge, straddle or other risk reduction, constructive sale or conversion transaction, non-U.S. individuals and foreign corporations (except to the limited extent discussed below under “—Taxation of Non-U.S. Shareholders”) and other persons subject to special tax rules. Moreover, this summary assumes that our shareholders hold our common shares as a “capital asset” for U.S. federal income tax purposes, which generally means property held for investment.
The statements in this section are based on the current U.S. federal income tax laws, including the Code, the regulations promulgated by the U.S. Treasury Department, or the Treasury Regulations, rulings and other administrative interpretations and practices of the IRS and judicial decisions, all as currently in effect, and all of which are subject to differing interpretations or to change, possibly with retroactive effect. This discussion is for general purposes only and is not tax advice. We cannot assure you that new laws, interpretations of law, or court decisions, any of which may take effect retroactively, will not cause any statement in this section to be inaccurate.
We urge you to consult your own tax advisor regarding the specific tax consequences to you of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our common shares and of our election to be taxed as a REIT. Specifically, you should consult your own tax advisor regarding the U.S. federal, state, local, foreign, and other tax consequences of such acquisition, ownership, disposition and election, and regarding potential changes in applicable tax laws.
Taxation of Our Company
We elected to be taxed as a REIT under the federal income tax laws beginning with our taxable year ended December 31, 1999. We believe that, beginning with the taxable year ended December 31, 1999, we have been organized and have operated in a manner as to qualify for taxation as a REIT under the Code, and we intend to continue to operate in this manner. However, no assurances can be provided regarding our qualification as a REIT because REIT qualification depends on our ability to satisfy numerous asset, income, share ownership and distribution tests described below, the satisfaction of which will depend, in part, on our operating results.
The sections of the Code relating to qualification, operation and taxation as a REIT are highly technical and complex. The following discussion sets forth only the material aspects of those sections. This summary is qualified in its entirety by the applicable Code provisions and the related Treasury Regulations and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof.
24
In connection with the filing of this registration statement, Morrison & Foerster LLP has rendered an opinion that we are organized in conformity with the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the U.S. federal income tax laws for our taxable years ended December 31, 2011 through December 31, 2014, and our proposed method of operation will enable us to satisfy the requirements for qualification and taxation as a REIT under the U.S. federal income tax laws for our taxable year ending December 31, 2015 and thereafter. Investors should be aware that Morrison & Foerster LLP’s opinion is based on the U.S. federal income tax laws governing qualification as a REIT as of the date of the opinion, which is subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis, is not binding on the IRS or any court, and speaks only as of the date issued. In addition, Morrison & Foerster LLP’s opinion is based on customary assumptions and is conditioned upon certain representations made by us as to factual matters, including representations regarding the nature of our assets and the future conduct of our business. Moreover, our continued qualification and taxation as a REIT depend on our ability to meet, on a continuing basis, through actual results, certain qualification tests set forth in the U.S. federal income tax laws. Those qualification tests involve, among other things, the percentage of our gross income that we earn from specified sources, the percentage of our assets that falls within specified categories, the diversity of our share ownership and the percentage of our earnings that we distribute. Morrison & Foerster LLP will not review our compliance with those tests on a continuing basis. Accordingly, no assurance can be given that the actual results of our operations for any particular taxable year will satisfy the requirements discussed above. Morrison & Foerster LLP’s opinion does not foreclose the possibility that we may have to use one or more of the REIT savings provisions described below, which may require us to pay a material excise or penalty tax in order to maintain our REIT qualification. For a discussion of the tax consequences of our failure to maintain our qualification as a REIT, see “—Failure to Qualify as a REIT” below.
If we qualify as a REIT, we generally will not be subject to U.S. federal income tax on the taxable income that we distribute to our shareholders because we will be entitled to a deduction for dividends that we pay. Such tax treatment avoids the “double taxation,” or taxation at both the corporate and shareholder levels, that generally results from owning stock in a corporation. In general, income generated by a REIT is taxed only at the shareholder level if the income is distributed by the REIT to its shareholders. However, we will be subject to U.S. federal income tax in the following circumstances:
• | We will be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on any REIT taxable income, including net capital gain, that we do not distribute to our shareholders during, or within a specified time period after, the calendar year in which the income is earned. |
• | We may be subject to corporate “alternative minimum tax.” |
• | We will be subject to tax, at the highest U.S. federal corporate income tax rate, on net income from the sale or other disposition of property acquired through foreclosure, or foreclosure property, that we hold primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business, and other non-qualifying income from foreclosure property. |
• | We will be subject to a 100% tax on net income from sales or other dispositions of property, other than foreclosure property, that we hold primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business. |
• | If we fail to satisfy one or both of the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test, as described below under “—Gross Income Tests,” but nonetheless maintain our qualification as a REIT because we meet certain other requirements, we will be subject to a 100% tax on: |
◦ | the greater of the amount by which we fail the 75% gross income test or the 95% gross income test, in either case, multiplied by |
◦ | a fraction intended to reflect our profitability. |
• | If we fail to distribute during a calendar year at least the sum of: (1) 85% of our REIT ordinary income for the year, (2) 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for the year, and (3) any undistributed taxable income required to be distributed from earlier periods, then we will be subject to a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the amount we actually distributed. |
25
• | If we fail any of the asset tests, other than a de minimis failure of the 5% asset test, the 10% vote test or the 10% value test, as described below under “—Asset Tests,” as long as (1) the failure was due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect, (2) we file a description of each asset that caused the failure with the IRS, and (3) we dispose of the assets causing the failure or otherwise comply with the asset tests within six months after the last day of the quarter in which we identify the failure, we will pay a tax equal to the greater of $50,000 or the highest U.S. federal corporate income tax rate (currently 35%) multiplied by the net income from the nonqualifying assets during the period in which we failed to satisfy the asset tests. |
• | If we fail to satisfy one or more requirements for REIT qualification, other than the gross income tests and the asset tests, and the failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect, we will be required to pay a penalty of $50,000 for each failure. |
• | We will be subject to a 100% excise tax on transactions with a taxable REIT subsidiary, or TRS, that are not conducted on an arm’s-length basis. |
• | If we acquire any asset from a C corporation, or a corporation that generally is subject to full corporate-level tax, in a merger or other transaction in which we acquire a basis in the asset that is determined by reference either to the C corporation’s basis in the asset or to another asset, we will pay tax at the highest U.S. federal corporate income tax rate applicable if we recognize gain on the sale or disposition of the asset during the 10-year period after we acquire the asset. The amount of gain on which we will pay tax generally is the lesser of: |
o | the amount of gain that we recognize at the time of the sale or disposition, and |
o | the amount of gain that we would have recognized if we had sold the asset at the time we acquired it. |
• | The earnings of our subsidiary entities that are C corporations, including TRSs, will be subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax. |
In addition, we may be subject to a variety of taxes, including payroll taxes and state, local and foreign income, property and other taxes on our assets and operations. We also could be subject to tax in situations and on transactions not presently contemplated.
Requirements for Qualification as a REIT
A REIT is a corporation, trust or association that satisfies each of the following requirements:
(1) | It is managed by one or more trustees or directors; |
(2) | Its beneficial ownership is evidenced by transferable shares of stock, or by transferable shares or certificates of beneficial interest; |
(3) | It would be taxable as a domestic corporation, but for Sections 856 through 860 of the Code, i.e., the REIT provisions; |
(4) | It is neither a financial institution nor an insurance company subject to special provisions of the U.S. federal income tax laws; |
(5) | At least 100 persons are beneficial owners of its stock or ownership shares or certificates (determined without reference to any rules of attribution); |
(6) | Not more than 50% in value of its outstanding stock or shares of beneficial interest are owned, directly or indirectly, by five or fewer individuals, which the U.S. federal income tax laws define to include certain entities, during the last half of any taxable year; |
(7) | It elects to be a REIT, or has made an election to be a REIT for a previous taxable year, and satisfies all relevant filing and other administrative requirements established by the IRS that must be met to qualify to be taxed as a REIT for U.S. federal income tax purposes; |
26
(8) | It uses a calendar year for U.S. federal income tax purposes and complies with the recordkeeping requirements of the U.S. federal income tax laws; and |
(9) | It meets certain other requirements described below, regarding the sources of its gross income, the nature and diversification of its assets and the distribution of its income. |
We must satisfy requirements 1 through 4, and 8 during our entire taxable year and must satisfy requirement 5 during at least 335 days of a taxable year of 12 months, or during a proportionate part of a taxable year of less than 12 months. If we comply with certain requirements for ascertaining the beneficial ownership of our outstanding shares in a taxable year and have no reason to know that we violated requirement 6, we will be deemed to have satisfied requirement 6 for that taxable year. For purposes of determining share ownership under requirement 6, an “individual” generally includes a supplemental unemployment compensation benefits plan, a private foundation, or a portion of a trust permanently set aside or used exclusively for charitable purposes. An “individual,” however, generally does not include a trust that is a qualified employee pension or profit sharing trust under the U.S. federal income tax laws, and beneficiaries of such a trust will be treated as holding our shares in proportion to their actuarial interests in the trust for purposes of requirement 6. Our charter provides for restrictions regarding the ownership and transfer of our shares. We believe that we will issue sufficient shares with enough diversity of ownership to allow us to satisfy requirements 5 and 6 above. The restrictions in our charter are intended, among other things, to assist us in satisfying requirements 5 and 6 described above. These restrictions, however, may not ensure that we will be able to satisfy the share ownership requirements in all cases. If we fail to satisfy these share ownership requirements, our qualification as a REIT may terminate. For purposes of requirement 8, we have adopted December 31 as our year end for U.S. federal income tax purposes, and thereby satisfy this requirement.
Qualified REIT Subsidiaries. A “qualified REIT subsidiary” generally is a corporation, all of the stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by a REIT and that is not treated as a TRS. A corporation that is a “qualified REIT subsidiary” is treated as a division of the REIT that owns, directly or indirectly, all of its stock and not as a separate entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Thus, all assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit of a “qualified REIT subsidiary” are treated as assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit of the REIT that directly or indirectly owns the qualified REIT subsidiary. Consequently, in applying the REIT requirements described herein, the separate existence of any “qualified REIT subsidiary” that we own will be ignored, and all assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit of the qualified REIT subsidiary will be treated as our assets, liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit.
Other Disregarded Entities and Partnerships. An unincorporated domestic entity, such as a partnership or limited liability company, that has a single owner, as determined under U.S. federal income tax laws, generally is not treated as an entity separate from its owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes. We own various direct and indirect interests in entities that are classified as partnerships and limited liability companies for state law purposes. Nevertheless, many of these entities currently are not treated as entities separate from their owners for U.S. federal income tax purposes because these entities are treated as having a single owner for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Consequently, the assets and liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit, of these entities will be treated as our assets and liabilities, and items of income, deduction, and credit, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, including the application of the various REIT qualification requirements.
An unincorporated domestic entity with two or more owners, as determined under the U.S. federal income tax laws, generally is taxed as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. In the case of a REIT that is an owner in an entity that is taxed as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the REIT is treated as owning its proportionate share of the assets of the entity and as earning its allocable share of the gross income of the entity for purposes of the applicable REIT qualification tests. Thus, our proportionate share of the assets and items of gross income of our Operating Partnership and any other partnership, joint venture, or limited liability company that is taxed as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes is treated as our assets and items of gross income for purposes of applying the various REIT qualification tests. For purposes of the 10% value test (described in “—Asset Tests”), our proportionate share is based on our proportionate interest in the equity interests and certain debt securities issued by the entity. For all of the other asset and income tests, our proportionate share is based on our proportionate interest in the capital of the entity.
Taxable REIT Subsidiaries. A REIT is permitted to own, directly or indirectly, up to 100% of the stock of one or more TRSs. The subsidiary and the REIT generally must jointly elect to treat the subsidiary as a TRS. However, a corporation of which a TRS directly or indirectly owns more than 35% of the voting power or value of the securities is automatically treated as a TRS without an election.
27
Unlike a qualified REIT subsidiary, the separate existence of a TRS is not ignored for U.S. federal income tax purposes and a TRS is a fully taxable corporation subject to U.S. federal corporate income tax on its earnings. We will not be treated as holding the assets of any TRS or as receiving the income earned by any TRS. Rather, we will treat the stock issued by any TRS as an asset and will treat any distributions paid to us from any TRS as income. This treatment may affect our compliance with the gross income test and asset tests.
Restrictions imposed on REITs and their TRSs are intended to ensure that TRSs will be subject to appropriate levels of U.S. federal income taxation. These restrictions limit the deductibility of interest paid or accrued by a TRS to its parent REIT and impose a 100% excise tax on transactions between a TRS and its parent REIT or the REIT’s tenants that are not conducted on an arm’s-length basis. Dividends paid to us from a TRS, if any, will be treated as dividend income received from a corporation. The foregoing treatment of TRSs may reduce the cash flow generated by us and our subsidiaries in the aggregate and our ability to make distributions to our shareholders and may affect our compliance with the gross income tests and asset tests.
A TRS generally may be used by a REIT to undertake indirectly activities that the REIT requirements might otherwise preclude the REIT from doing directly, such as the provision of noncustomary tenant services or the disposition of property held for sale to customers. See “—Gross Income Tests—Rents from Real Property” and “—Gross Income Tests—Prohibited Transactions.”
Gross Income Tests
We must satisfy two gross income tests annually to qualify and maintain our qualification as a REIT. First, at least 75% of our gross income for each taxable year generally must consist of the following:
• | rents from real property; |
• | interest on debt secured by mortgages on real property or on interests in real property; |
• | dividends or other distributions on, and gain from the sale of, stock or shares of beneficial interest in other REITs; |
• | gain from the sale of real estate assets; |
• | income and gain derived from foreclosure property; and |
• | income derived from the temporary investment of new capital attributable to the issuance of our shares or a public offering of our debt with a maturity date of at least five years and that we receive during the one-year period beginning on the date on which we receive the new capital. |
Second, in general, at least 95% of our gross income for each taxable year must consist of income that is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, other types of interest and dividends, gain from the sale or disposition of stock or securities, or any combination of these.
Cancellation of indebtedness income and gross income from a sale of property that we hold primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of business will be excluded from gross income for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests. In addition, gains from “hedging transactions,” as defined in “—Hedging Transactions,” that are clearly and timely identified as such will be excluded from gross income for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests. Finally, certain foreign currency gains will be excluded from gross income for purposes of one or both of the gross income tests.
The following paragraphs discuss the specific application of certain relevant aspects of the gross income tests to us.
Rents from Real Property. Rent that we receive for the use of our real property will qualify as “rents from real property,” which is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests, only if the following conditions are met:
First, the rent must not be based in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. However, participating rent will qualify as “rents from real property” if it is based on percentages of receipts or sales and the percentages generally:
• | are fixed at the time the leases are entered into; |
28
• | are not renegotiated during the term of the leases in a manner that has the effect of basing percentage rent on income or profits; and |
• | conform with normal business practice. |
In compliance with the rules above, we intend to set and accept rents which are fixed dollar amounts with an annual percentage increase, if any, after a certain fixed number of years based on either a fixed percentage or the “consumer price index”, and not to any extent determined by reference to any person’s income or profits.
Second, we generally must not own, actually or constructively, 10% or more of the stock or the assets or net profits of any tenant, referred to as a “related-party tenant.” The constructive ownership rules generally provide that, if 10% or more in value of our shares is owned, directly or indirectly, by or for any person, we are considered as owning the stock owned, directly or indirectly, by or for such person. Because the constructive ownership rules are broad and it is not possible to monitor direct and indirect transfers of our shares continually, no assurance can be given that the transfers or other events of which we have no knowledge will not cause us to own constructively 10% or more of a tenant (or a subtenant, in which case only rent attributable to the subtenant is disqualified).
Under an exception to the related-party tenant rule, rent that we receive from a TRS lessee will qualify as “rents from real property” as long as (1) at least 90% of the leased space in the property is leased to persons other than TRS lessees and related-party tenants, and (2) the amount paid by the TRS lessee to rent space at the property is substantially comparable to rents paid by other tenants of the property for comparable space.
Third, we must not furnish or render noncustomary services, other than a de minimis amount of noncustomary services, to the tenants of our properties other than through (i) an independent contractor from whom we do not derive or receive any income or (ii) a TRS. However, we generally may provide services directly to our tenants to the extent that the services are “usually or customarily rendered” in connection with the rental of space for occupancy only and are not considered to be provided for the tenants’ convenience. In addition, we may provide a minimal amount of noncustomary services to the tenants of a property, other than through an independent contractor from whom we do not derive or receive any income or a TRS, as long as the income attributable to the services (valued at not less than 150% of the direct cost of performing the services) does not exceed 1% of our gross income from the related property. If the rent from a lease does not qualify as “rents from real property” because we furnish noncustomary services having a value in excess of 1% of our gross income from the related property to the tenants of the property, other than through a qualifying independent contractor or a TRS, none of the rent from the property will qualify as “rents from real property.” We have not performed, and do not intend to provide any noncustomary services to our tenants unless such services are provided through independent contractors from whom we do not derive or receive any income or TRSs.
Fourth, rent attributable to any personal property leased in connection with a lease of real property will not qualify as “rents from real property” if the rent attributable to personal property exceeds 15% of the total rent received under the lease. If a portion of the rent that we receive from a property does not qualify as “rents from real property” because the rent attributable to personal property exceeds 15% of the total rent for a taxable year, the portion of the rent attributable to personal property will not be qualifying income for purposes of either the 75% or 95% gross income test. We do not and do not intend to lease significant amounts of personal property pursuant to our leases.
Fifth, the leases must qualify as leases for federal income tax purposes and not treated as service contracts, joint ventures or some other type of arrangement for federal income tax purposes. The determination of whether our leases are leases for federal income tax purposes depends on an analysis of all the surrounding facts and circumstances. We intend to enter into leases that will be treated as true leases for federal income tax purposes, but there can be no assurance that the IRS will agree with this characterization.
We believe rents received under our leases generally qualify as “rents from real property” and any income attributable to noncustomary services or personal property will not jeopardize our ability to maintain our qualification as a REIT. However, there can be no assurance that the IRS would not challenge our conclusions, or that a court would agree with our conclusions. If such a challenge were successful, we could fail to satisfy the 75% or 95% gross income test and thus potentially lose our REIT status.
29
Interest. Interest income constitutes qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test to the extent that the obligation upon which the interest is paid is secured by a mortgage on real property or on an interest in real property. For purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests, the term “interest” generally does not include any amount received or accrued, directly or indirectly, if the determination of the amount depends in whole or in part on the income or profits of any person. However, an amount received or accrued generally will not be excluded from the term “interest” solely because it is based on a fixed percentage or percentages of receipts or sales. Furthermore, to the extent that interest from a loan that is based on the profit or net cash proceeds from the sale of the property securing the loan constitutes a “shared appreciation provision,” income attributable to the participation feature will be treated as gain from the sale of the secured property.
We may provide mortgage loans. Interest on debt secured by mortgages on real property or on interests in real property, including, for this purpose, prepayment penalties, loan assumption fees and late payment charges that are not compensation for services, generally is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test. In general, under applicable Treasury Regulations, if a loan is secured by real property and other property and the highest principal amount of the loan outstanding during a taxable year exceeds the fair market value of the real property securing the loan determined as of the date we agreed to acquire or originate the loan then a portion of the interest income from the loan will not be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test, but will be qualifying income for purposes of the 95% gross income test. We anticipate that the interest on our mortgage loans generally would be treated as qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test.
Certain mezzanine loans are secured by equity interests in an entity that directly or indirectly owns real property, rather than by a direct mortgage of the real property. IRS Revenue Procedure 2003-65 provides a safe harbor pursuant to which a mezzanine loan, if it meets each of the requirements contained in the Revenue Procedure, will be treated by the IRS as a real estate asset for purposes of the REIT asset tests described below, and interest derived from it will be treated as qualifying mortgage interest for purposes of the 75% gross income test. Although the Revenue Procedure provides a safe harbor on which taxpayers may rely, it does not prescribe rules of substantive tax law. We anticipate that any mezzanine loans that we originate typically may not meet all of the requirements for reliance on this safe harbor. Nevertheless, if we invest in mezzanine loans, we intend to do so in a manner that will enable us to satisfy the gross income tests and asset tests.
Dividends. Our share of any dividends received from any corporation or entity treated as a corporation for federal income tax purposes (including any TRS, but excluding any REIT or qualified REIT subsidiary) in which we own an equity interest will qualify for purposes of the 95% gross income test but not for purposes of the 75% gross income test. Our share of any dividends received from any other REIT in which we own an equity interest will be qualifying income for purposes of both gross income tests. Any dividends received by us from a qualified REIT subsidiary will be excluded from gross income for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests.
Prohibited Transactions. A REIT will incur a 100% tax on the net income derived from any sale or other disposition of property, other than foreclosure property, that the REIT holds primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business. Net income derived from prohibited transactions is excluded from gross income for purposes of the 75% and 95% gross income tests. Whether a REIT holds an asset “primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business” depends on the facts and circumstances that exist from time to time, including those related to a particular asset. A safe harbor to the characterization of the sale of property by a REIT as a prohibited transaction is available if the following requirements are met:
• | the REIT has held the property for not less than two years; |
• | the aggregate capital expenditures made by the REIT, or any partner of the REIT, during the two-year period preceding the date of the sale do not exceed 30% of the selling price of the property; |
• | either (1) during the year in question, the REIT did not make more than seven property sales other than sales of foreclosure property or sales to which Section 1033 of the Code applies, (2) the aggregate adjusted bases of all properties sold by the REIT during the year did not exceed 10% of the aggregate bases of all of the assets of the REIT at the beginning of the year or (3) the aggregate fair market value of all properties sold by the REIT during the year did not exceed 10% of the aggregate fair market value of all of the assets of the REIT at the beginning of the year; |
• | in the case of property not acquired through foreclosure or lease termination, the REIT has held the property for at least two years for the production of rental income; and |
30
• | if the REIT has made more than seven property sales (excluding sales of foreclosure property) during the taxable year, substantially all of the marketing and development expenditures with respect to the property were made through an independent contractor from whom the REIT derives no income. |
We will attempt to comply with the terms of the foregoing safe-harbor. However, we cannot assure you that we will be able to comply with the safe-harbor provisions or that we will avoid owning property that may be characterized as property held “primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of a trade or business.” We may hold and dispose of certain properties through a TRS if we conclude that the sale or other disposition of the property may not fall within the safe-harbor provisions. The 100% prohibited transactions tax will not apply to gains from the sale of property by a TRS, although the income will be taxed to the TRS at U.S. federal corporate income tax rates.
Foreclosure Property. We generally will be subject to tax at the maximum corporate rate on any net income from foreclosure property, other than income that otherwise would be qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test. Gross income from foreclosure property will qualify under the 75% and 95% gross income tests.
Hedging Transactions. From time to time, we or our subsidiaries may enter into hedging transactions with respect to one or more of our or our subsidiaries’ assets or liabilities. Our or our subsidiaries’ hedging activities may include entering into interest rate swaps, caps, and floors, options to purchase such items, and futures and forward contracts. Income and gain from “hedging transactions” will be excluded from gross income for purposes of both the 75% and 95% gross income tests. A “hedging transaction” means either (1) any transaction entered into in the normal course of our or our subsidiaries’ trade or business primarily to manage the risk of interest rate, price changes, or currency fluctuations with respect to borrowings made or to be made, or ordinary obligations incurred or to be incurred, to acquire or carry real estate assets or (2) any transaction entered into primarily to manage the risk of currency fluctuations with respect to any item of income or gain that would be qualifying income under the 75% or 95% gross income test (or any property which generates such income or gain). We are required to clearly identify any such hedging transaction before the close of the day on which it was acquired, originated, or entered into and to satisfy other identification requirements. We intend to structure any hedging transactions in a manner that does not jeopardize our qualification as a REIT; however, no assurance can be given that our hedging activities will give rise to income that is excluded from gross income or qualifies for purposes of either or both of the gross income tests.
Failure to Satisfy Gross Income Tests. We intend to monitor our sources of income, including any non-qualifying income received by us, and manage our assets so as to ensure our compliance with the gross income tests. If we fail to satisfy one or both of the gross income tests for any taxable year, we nevertheless may qualify as a REIT for that year if we qualify for relief under certain provisions of the U.S. federal income tax laws. Those relief provisions are available if:
• | our failure to meet the applicable test is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect; and |
• | following such failure for any taxable year, we file a schedule of the sources of our income with the IRS in accordance with the Treasury Regulations. |
We cannot predict, however, whether any failure to meet these tests will qualify for the relief provisions. In addition, as discussed above in “—Taxation of Our Company,” even if the relief provisions apply, we would incur a 100% tax on the gross income attributable to the greater of (1) the amount by which we fail the 75% gross income test, or (2) the amount by which we fail the 95% gross income test, multiplied, in either case, by a fraction intended to reflect our profitability.
Asset Tests
To qualify as a REIT, we also must satisfy the following asset tests at the end of each quarter of each taxable year.
First, under the “75% asset test,” at least 75% of the value of our total assets generally must consist of:
• | cash or cash items, including certain receivables and shares in certain money market funds; |
• | government securities; |
• | interests in real property, including leaseholds and options to acquire real property and leaseholds; |
• | interests in mortgage loans secured by real property; |
• | stock or shares of beneficial interest in other REITs; and |
31
• | investments in stock or debt instruments during the one-year period following our receipt of new capital that we raise through equity offerings or public offerings of debt with at least a five-year term. |
Second, under the “5% asset test,” of our assets that are not qualifying assets for purposes of the 75% asset test described above, the value of our interest in any one issuer’s securities may not exceed 5% of the value of our total assets.
Third, of our assets that are not qualifying assets for purposes of the 75% asset test described above, we may not own more than 10% of the voting power of any one issuer’s outstanding securities, or the “10% vote test,” or more than 10% of the value of any one issuer’s outstanding securities, or the “10% value test.”
Fourth, no more than 25% of the value of our total assets may consist of the securities of one or more TRSs.
Fifth, no more than 25% of the value of our total assets may consist of the securities of TRSs and other assets that are not qualifying assets for purposes of the 75% asset test.
For purposes of the 5% asset test, the 10% vote test and the 10% value test, the term “securities” does not include securities that qualify under the 75% asset test, securities of a TRS and equity interests in an entity taxed as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. For purposes of the 10% value test, the term “securities” also does not include: certain “straight debt” securities; any loan to an individual or an estate; most rental agreements and obligations to pay rent; any debt instrument issued by an entity taxed as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes in which we are an owner to the extent of our proportionate interest in the debt and equity securities of the entity; and any debt instrument issued by an entity taxed as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes if at least 75% of the entity’s gross income, excluding income from prohibited transactions, is qualifying income for purposes of the 75% gross income test described above in “—Gross Income Tests.”
We believe that the assets that we hold satisfy the foregoing asset test requirements. We will not obtain, nor are we required to obtain under the U.S. federal income tax laws, independent appraisals to support our conclusions as to the value of our assets and securities or the real estate collateral for the mortgage or mezzanine loans that we may originate. Moreover, the values of some assets may not be susceptible to a precise determination. As a result, there can be no assurance that the IRS will not contend that our ownership of securities and other assets violates one or more of the asset tests applicable to REITs.
Failure to Satisfy Asset Tests. We will monitor the status of our assets for purposes of the various asset tests and will manage our portfolio in order to comply at all times with the various asset tests. Nevertheless, if we fail to satisfy the asset tests at the end of a calendar quarter, we will not lose our REIT status if:
• | we satisfied the asset tests at the end of the preceding calendar quarter; and |
• | the discrepancy between the value of our assets and the asset test requirements arose from changes in the market values of our assets and was not caused, in part or in whole, by the acquisition of one or more non-qualifying assets. |
If we did not satisfy the condition described in the second bullet point immediately above, we still could avoid REIT disqualification by eliminating any discrepancy within 30 days after the close of the calendar quarter in which the discrepancy arose.
In the event that we violate the 5% asset test, the 10% vote test or the 10% value test described above, we will not lose our REIT status if (1) the failure is de minimis (up to the lesser of 1% of our assets or $10 million) and (2) we dispose of assets causing the failure or otherwise comply with the asset tests within six months after the last day of the quarter in which we identify the failure. In the event of a failure of any of the asset tests other than a de minimis failure, as described in the preceding sentence, we will not lose our REIT status if (1) the failure was due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect, (2) we file a description of each asset causing the failure with the IRS, (3) we dispose of assets causing the failure or otherwise comply with the asset tests within six months after the last day of the quarter in which we identify the failure, and (4) we pay a tax equal to the greater of $50,000 or the highest U.S. federal corporate income tax rate (currently 35%) multiplied by the net income from the nonqualifying assets during the period in which we failed to satisfy the asset tests.
Annual Distribution Requirements
Each taxable year, we must make distributions, other than capital gain dividend distributions and deemed distributions of retained capital gain, to our shareholders in an aggregate amount at least equal to:
32
• | the sum of: |
◦ | 90% of our “REIT taxable income,” computed without regard to the dividends paid deduction and excluding any net capital gain, and |
◦ | 90% of our after-tax net income, if any, from foreclosure property, minus |
• | the sum of certain items of non-cash income. |
Generally, we must pay the distributions in the taxable year to which they relate, or in the following taxable year if either (1) we declare the distribution before we timely file our U.S. federal income tax return for the year and pay the distribution on or before the first regular dividend payment date after the declaration or (2) we declare the distribution in October, November, or December of the taxable year, payable to shareholders of record on a specified day in any such month, and we actually pay the dividend before the end of January of the following year. In both instances, these distributions relate to our prior taxable year for purposes of the annual distribution requirement to the extent of our earnings and profits for the prior taxable year.
We will pay U.S. federal income tax on any taxable income, including net capital gain, that we do not distribute to our shareholders. Furthermore, if we fail to distribute during a calendar year, or by the end of January of the following calendar year in the case of distributions with declaration and record dates falling in the last three months of the calendar year, at least the sum of:
• | 85% of our REIT ordinary income for the year, |
• | 95% of our REIT capital gain net income for the year, and |
• | any undistributed taxable income from prior years, |
we will incur a 4% nondeductible excise tax on the excess of the required distribution over the amounts we actually distributed.
We may elect to retain and pay U.S. federal income tax on the net long-term capital gain that we receive in a taxable year. If we so elect, we will be treated as having distributed the retained amount for purposes of the 4% nondeductible excise tax described above. We intend to make timely distributions sufficient to satisfy the annual distribution requirement and to minimize U.S. federal corporate income tax and avoid the 4% nondeductible excise tax.
It is possible that, from time to time, we may experience timing differences between the actual receipt of income and actual payment of deductible expenses and the inclusion of that income and deduction of expenses in arriving at our REIT taxable income. Further, it is possible that, from time to time, we may be allocated a share of net capital gain from an entity taxed as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes in which we own an interest that is attributable to the sale of depreciated property that exceeds our allocable share of cash attributable to that sale. As a result of the foregoing, we may have less cash than is necessary to make distributions to our shareholders that are sufficient to avoid U.S. federal corporate income tax and the 4% nondeductible excise tax imposed on certain undistributed income or even to meet the annual distribution requirement. In that case, we may need to borrow funds or issue additional shares or, if possible, pay dividends consisting, in whole or in part, of our shares or debt securities.
In order for distributions to be counted as satisfying the annual distribution requirement applicable to REITs and to provide us with a REIT-level tax deduction, the distributions must not be “preferential dividends.” A distribution is not a preferential dividend if the distribution is (1) pro rata among all outstanding shares within a particular class, and (2) in accordance with the preferences among different classes of shares as set forth in our organizational documents.
Under certain circumstances, we may be able to correct a failure to meet the distribution requirement for a year by paying “deficiency dividends” to our shareholders in a later year. We may include the deficiency dividends in our deduction for dividends paid for the earlier year. Although we may be able to avoid income tax on amounts distributed as deficiency dividends, we will be required to pay interest to the IRS based on the amount of any deduction we take for deficiency dividends.
33
Recordkeeping Requirements
We must maintain certain records in order to maintain our qualification as a REIT. To avoid paying monetary penalties, we must demand, on an annual basis, information from certain of our shareholders designed to disclose the actual ownership of our outstanding shares, and we must maintain a list of those persons failing or refusing to comply with the demand as part of our records. A shareholder that fails or refuses to comply with the demand is required by the Treasury Regulations to submit a statement with its tax return disclosing the actual ownership of our shares and other information. We intend to comply with these recordkeeping requirements.
Failure to Qualify as a REIT
If we fail to satisfy one or more requirements for REIT qualification, other than the gross income tests and the asset tests, we could avoid disqualification if our failure is due to reasonable cause and not to willful neglect and we pay a penalty of $50,000 for each failure. In addition, there are relief provisions available under the Code for a failure of the gross income tests and asset tests, as described in “—Gross Income Tests” and “—Asset Tests.”
If we were to fail to maintain our qualification as a REIT in any taxable year, and no relief provision applied, we would be subject to U.S. federal income tax on our taxable income at U.S. federal corporate income tax rates and any applicable alternative minimum tax. In calculating our taxable income for a year in which we failed to maintain our qualification as a REIT, we would not be able to deduct amounts distributed to our shareholders, and we would not be required to distribute any amounts to our shareholders for that year. Unless we qualified for relief under the statutory relief provisions described in the preceding paragraph, we also would be disqualified from taxation as a REIT for the four taxable years following the year during which we ceased to maintain our qualification as a REIT. We cannot predict whether in all circumstances we would qualify for statutory relief.
Taxation of Taxable U.S. Shareholders
For purposes of our discussion, the term “U.S. shareholder” means a beneficial owner of our common shares that, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, is:
• | an individual citizen or resident of the United States; |
• | a corporation (including an entity treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes) created or organized under the laws of the United States, any of its states or the District of Columbia; |
• | an estate whose income is subject to U.S. federal income taxation regardless of its source; or |
• | any trust if (1) a U.S. court is able to exercise primary supervision over the administration of the trust and one or more U.S. persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust or (2) it has a valid election in place to be treated as a U.S. person. |
If an entity or arrangement treated as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes (a “partnership”) holds our common shares, the U.S. federal income tax treatment of an owner of the partnership generally will depend on the status of the owner and the activities of the partnership. Partnerships and their owners should consult their tax advisors regarding the consequences of the ownership and disposition of our common shares by the partnership.
Distributions. If we qualify as a REIT, distributions made out of our current and accumulated earnings and profits that we do not designate as capital gain dividends will be ordinary dividend income to taxable U.S. shareholders. A corporate U.S. shareholder will not qualify for the dividends-received deduction generally available to corporations. Our ordinary dividends also generally will not qualify for the preferential long-term capital gain tax rate applicable to “qualified dividends” unless certain holding period requirements are met and the dividends are attributable to (i) qualified dividends received by us from non-REIT corporations, such as any TRSs, or (ii) income recognized by us and on which we have paid U.S. federal corporate income tax. We do not expect a meaningful portion of our ordinary dividends to be eligible for taxation as qualified dividends.
Any distribution we declare in October, November, or December of any year that is payable to a U.S. shareholder of record on a specified date in any of those months and is attributable to our current and accumulated earnings and profits for that year will be treated as paid by us and received by the U.S. shareholder on December 31 of that year, provided that we actually pay the distribution during January of the following calendar year.
34
Distributions to a U.S. shareholder which we designate as capital gain dividends generally will be treated as long-term capital gain, without regard to the period for which the U.S. shareholder has held our shares. A corporate U.S. shareholder may be required to treat up to 20% of certain capital gain dividends as ordinary income.
We may elect to retain and pay U.S. federal corporate income tax on the net long-term capital gain that we receive in a taxable year. In that case, to the extent that we designate the amount in a timely notice to our shareholders, a U.S. shareholder would be taxed on its proportionate share of our undistributed long-term capital gain. The U.S. shareholder would receive a credit or refund for its proportionate share of the U.S. federal corporate income tax we paid. The U.S. shareholder would increase its basis in our common shares by the amount of its proportionate share of our undistributed long-term capital gain, minus its share of the U.S. federal corporate income tax we paid.
A U.S. shareholder will not incur U.S. federal income tax on a distribution in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits if the distribution does not exceed the U.S. shareholder’s adjusted basis in our common shares. Instead, the distribution will reduce the U.S. shareholder’s adjusted basis in our common shares. The excess of any distribution to a U.S. shareholder over both its share of our current and accumulated earnings and profits and its adjusted basis will be treated as capital gain and long-term capital gain if the shares have been held for more than one year.
U.S. shareholders may not include in their individual federal income tax returns any of our net operating losses or capital losses. Instead, these losses are generally carried over by us for potential offset against our future income. We will notify U.S. shareholders after the close of our taxable year as to the portions of the distributions attributable to that taxable year that constitute ordinary income, return of capital and capital gain.
Dispositions. In general, a U.S. shareholder will recognize gain or loss on the sale or other taxable disposition of our common shares in an amount equal to the difference between (i) the sum of the fair market value of any property and the amount of cash received in the disposition and (ii) the U.S. shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in the shares. A U.S. shareholder’s adjusted tax basis in our common shares generally will equal the U.S. shareholder’s acquisition cost, increased by the excess of undistributed net capital gains deemed distributed to the U.S. shareholder over the federal corporate income tax deemed paid by the U.S. shareholder on the gains and reduced by any returns of capital. Such gain or loss generally will be long-term capital gain or loss if the U.S. shareholder has held the stock for more than one year and short-term capital gain or loss otherwise. However, a U.S. shareholder must treat any loss on a sale or exchange of our common shares held by the shareholder for six months or less as a long-term capital loss to the extent of capital gain dividends and any other actual or deemed distributions from us that the U.S. shareholder treats as long-term capital gain. All or a portion of any loss that a U.S. shareholder realizes on a taxable disposition of our common shares may be disallowed if the U.S. shareholder makes a purchase of our common shares within 30 days before or after the disposition. Capital losses generally are available only to offset capital gains of the shareholder except in the case of individuals, who may offset up to $3,000 of ordinary income each year.
Other Considerations. U.S. shareholders may not include in their individual U.S. federal income tax returns any of our net operating losses or capital losses. Taxable distributions from us and gain from the disposition of our common shares will not be treated as passive activity income and, therefore, U.S. shareholders generally will not be able to apply any “passive activity losses” against such income. In addition, taxable distributions from us and gain from the disposition of our common shares generally will be treated as investment income for purposes of the investment interest limitations.
Tax Rates. The maximum U.S. federal income tax rate on ordinary income and short-term capital gains applicable to U.S. shareholders that are taxed at individual rates currently is 39.6%, and the maximum U.S. federal income tax rate on long-term capital gains applicable to U.S. shareholders that are taxed at individual rates currently is 20%. However, the maximum tax rate on long-term capital gain from the sale or exchange of “section 1250 property” (i.e., generally, depreciable real property) is 25% to the extent the gain would have been treated as ordinary income if the property were “section 1245 property” (i.e., generally, depreciable personal property). We generally will designate whether a distribution that we designate as a capital gain dividend (and any retained capital gain that we are deemed to distribute) is attributable to the sale or exchange of “section 1250 property.”
Additional Medicare Tax. Certain U.S. shareholders, including individuals, estates and trusts, will be subject to an additional 3.8% tax, which, for individuals, applies to the lesser of (i) “net investment income” or (ii) the excess of “modified adjusted gross income” over $200,000 ($250,000 if married and filing jointly or $125,000 if married and filing separately). “Net investment income” generally equals the taxpayer’s gross investment income reduced by the deductions that are allocable to such income. Investment income generally includes passive income such as interest, dividends, annuities, royalties, rents and capital gains.
35
Taxation of Tax-Exempt Shareholders
Tax-exempt entities, including qualified employee pension and profit sharing trusts, or “qualified trusts,” and individual retirement accounts and annuities, generally are exempt from U.S. federal income taxation. However, they are subject to taxation on their “unrelated business taxable income,” or UBTI. Amounts that we distribute to tax-exempt shareholders generally should not constitute UBTI. However, if a tax-exempt shareholder were to finance its acquisition of our common shares with debt, a portion of the distribution that it received from us would constitute UBTI pursuant to the “debt- financed property” rules. Furthermore, social clubs, voluntary employee benefit associations, supplemental unemployment benefit trusts, and qualified group legal services plans that are exempt from taxation under special provisions of the U.S. federal income tax laws are subject to different UBTI rules, which generally will require them to characterize distributions that they receive from us as UBTI.
Finally, in certain circumstances, a qualified trust that owns more than 10% of the value of our shares must treat a percentage of the dividends that it receives from us as UBTI. Such percentage is equal to the gross income that we derive from unrelated trades or businesses, determined as if we were a qualified trust, divided by our total gross income for the year in which we pay the dividends. Such rule applies to a qualified trust holding more than 10% of the value of our shares only if:
• | we are classified as a “pension-held REIT”; and |
• | the amount of gross income that we derive from unrelated trades or businesses for the year in which we pay the dividends, determined as if we were a qualified trust, is at least 5% of our total gross income for the year. |
We will be classified as a “pension-held REIT” if:
• | we qualify as a REIT by reason of the modification of the rule requiring that no more than 50% of our shares be owned by five or fewer individuals that allows the beneficiaries of the qualified trust to be treated as holding our shares in proportion to their actuarial interests in the qualified trust; and |
• | either: |
◦ | one qualified trust owns more than 25% of the value of our shares; or |
◦ | a group of qualified trusts, of which each qualified trust holds more than 10% of the value of our shares, collectively owns more than 50% of the value of our shares. |
As a result of limitations included in our charter on the transfer and ownership of our shares, we do not expect to be classified as a “pension-held REIT,” and, therefore, the tax treatment described in this paragraph should be inapplicable to our shareholders. However, because shares of our common shares are publicly traded, we cannot guarantee that this will always be the case.
Taxation of Non-U.S. Shareholders
For purposes of our discussion, the term “non-U.S. shareholder” means a beneficial owner of our common shares that is not a U.S. shareholder, a partnership (or an entity or arrangement taxed as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes or a tax-exempt shareholder. The rules governing U.S. federal income taxation of non-U.S. shareholders, including nonresident alien individuals, foreign corporations, foreign partnerships, and other foreign shareholders, are complex. This section is only a summary of certain of those rules.
We urge non-U.S. shareholders to consult their own tax advisors to determine the impact of U.S. federal, state, local and foreign income tax laws on the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our common shares, including any reporting requirements.
Distributions. Distributions to a non-U.S. shareholder (i) out of our current and accumulated earnings and profits, (ii) not attributable to gain from our sale or exchange of a “United States real property interest,” or a USRPI, and (iii) not designated by us as a capital gain dividend will be subject to a withholding tax at a rate of 30% unless:
• | a lower treaty rate applies and the non-U.S. shareholder submits an IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable (or any applicable successor form), to us evidencing eligibility for that reduced rate; or |
36
• | the non-U.S. shareholder submits an IRS Form W-8ECI (or any applicable successor form) to us claiming that the distribution is income effectively connected to a U.S. trade or business of the shareholder. |
A non-U.S. shareholder generally will be subject to U.S. federal income tax at graduated rates on any distribution treated as effectively connected with the non-U.S. shareholder’s conduct of a U.S. trade or business in the same manner as a U.S. shareholder. In addition, a corporate non-U.S. shareholder may be subject to a 30% branch profits tax with respect to the distribution.
A non-U.S. shareholder will not incur tax on a distribution in excess of our current and accumulated earnings and profits if the excess does not exceed the non-U.S. shareholder’s adjusted basis in our common shares. Instead, the excess portion of the distribution will reduce the non-U.S. shareholder’s adjusted basis in our common shares. The excess of a distribution over both our current and accumulated earnings and profits and the non-U.S. shareholder’s adjusted basis in our common shares will be taxed, if at all, as gain from the sale or disposition of our common shares. See “—Dispositions” below. Under FIRPTA (discussed below), we may be required to withhold 10% of the portion of any distribution that exceeds our current and accumulated earnings and profits.
Because we generally cannot determine at the time we make a distribution whether the distribution will exceed our current and accumulated earnings and profits, we may withhold tax at a rate of 30% (or such lower rate as may be provided under an applicable tax treaty) on the entire amount of any distribution. A non-U.S. shareholder may obtain a refund of amounts that we withhold if we later determine that a distribution in fact exceeded our current and accumulated earnings and profits.
Under the Foreign Investment in Real Property Tax Act of 1980, or FIRPTA, distributions attributable to capital gains from the sale or exchange by us of USRPIs are treated like income effectively connected with the conduct of a U.S. trade or business, generally are subject to U.S. federal income taxation in the same manner and at the same rates applicable to U.S. shareholders and, with respect to corporate non-U.S. shareholders, may be subject to a 30% branch profits tax. However, these distributions will not be subject to tax under FIRPTA, and will instead be taxed in the same manner as distributions described above, if:
• | the distribution is made with respect to a class of shares regularly traded on an established securities market in the United States; and |
• | the non-U.S. shareholder does not own more than 5% of such class at any time during the year within which the distribution is received. |
If our common shares are not regularly traded on an established securities market in the United States or if a non-U.S. shareholder owned more than 5% of our outstanding common shares at any time during the one-year period preceding the distribution, capital gain distributions to such non-U.S. shareholder attributable to our sales of USRPIs would be subject to tax under FIRPTA. We are required to withhold 35% of any distribution to a non-U.S. shareholder owning more than 5% of the relevant class of shares that could be designated by us as a capital gain dividend. Any amount so withheld is creditable against the non-U.S. shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability.
Amounts we designate as retained capital gains for the common shares held by U.S. shareholders generally should be treated by non-U.S. shareholders in the same manner as our actual distributions of capital gain dividends. Under this approach, a non-U.S. shareholder would be able to offset as a credit against its U.S. federal income tax liability resulting from its proportionate share of the tax paid by us on the retained capital gains, and to receive from the IRS a refund to the extent the non-U.S. shareholder’s proportionate share of the tax paid by us exceeds its actual U.S. federal income tax liability, provided that the non-U.S. shareholder furnishes required information to the IRS on a timely basis.
Dispositions. Non-U.S. shareholders may incur tax under FIRPTA with respect to gain recognized on a disposition of our common shares unless one of the applicable exceptions described below applies. Any gain subject to tax under FIRPTA generally will be taxed in the same manner as it would be in the hands of U.S. shareholders, except that corporate non-U.S. shareholders also may be subject to a 30% branch profits tax. In addition, the purchaser of our common shares could be required to withhold and remit to the IRS 10% of the purchase price for the shares.
37
Non-U.S. shareholders generally will not incur tax under FIRPTA with respect to gain on a sale of our common shares, however, as long as, at all times during a specified testing period, we are “domestically controlled,” i.e., non-U.S. persons hold, directly or indirectly, less than 50% in value of our outstanding shares. We cannot assure you that we will be domestically controlled. In addition, even if we are not domestically controlled, if our common shares are “regularly traded” on an established securities market, a non-U.S. shareholder that owned, actually or constructively, 5% or less of our outstanding common shares at all times during a specified testing period will not incur tax under FIRPTA on gain from a sale of such shares. Accordingly, provided our common shares are “regularly traded” on an established securities market, a non-U.S. shareholder that has not owned more than 5% of our common shares at any time during the five-year period prior to the sale will not incur tax under FIRPTA on gain from a sale of our common shares.
A non-U.S. shareholder generally will incur tax on gain from a disposition of our common shares not subject to FIRPTA if:
• | the gain is effectively connected with the conduct of the non-U.S. shareholder’s U.S. trade or business, in which case the non-U.S. shareholder generally will be subject to the same treatment as U.S. shareholders with respect to the gain, except that a non-U.S. shareholder that is a corporation also may be subject to the 30% branch profits tax; or |
• | the non-U.S. shareholder is a nonresident alien individual who was present in the U.S. for 183 days or more during the taxable year and certain other conditions are satisfied, in which case the non-U.S. shareholder generally will incur a 30% tax on its capital gains. |
Information Reporting Requirements and Backup Withholding
We will report to our shareholders and to the IRS the amount of distributions that we pay during each calendar year, and the amount of tax that we withhold, if any. Under the backup withholding rules, a shareholder may be subject to backup withholding (at a rate of 28%) with respect to distributions unless the shareholder:
• | is a corporation or qualifies for certain other exempt categories and, when required, demonstrates this fact; or |
• | provides a taxpayer identification number, certifies as to no loss of exemption from backup withholding, and otherwise complies with the applicable requirements of the backup withholding rules. |
A shareholder who does not provide us with its correct taxpayer identification number also may be subject to penalties imposed by the IRS. Any amount paid as backup withholding will be creditable against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability. In addition, we may be required to withhold a portion of capital gain distributions to any shareholders who fail to certify their non-foreign status to us.
Backup withholding generally will not apply to payments of dividends made by us or our paying agents, in their capacities as such, to a non-U.S. shareholder provided that the non-U.S. shareholder furnishes to us or our paying agent the required certification as to its non-U.S. status, such as providing a valid IRS Form W-8BEN or W-8BEN-E, as applicable, or W-8ECI (or any applicable successor form), or certain other requirements are met. Notwithstanding the foregoing, backup withholding may apply if either we or our paying agent has actual knowledge, or reason to know, that the holder is a “U.S. person” that is not an exempt recipient. Payments of the proceeds from a disposition or a redemption of our common shares that occurs outside the U.S. by a non-U.S. shareholder made by or through a foreign office of a broker generally will not be subject to information reporting or backup withholding. However, information reporting (but not backup withholding) generally will apply to the payment if the broker has certain connections with the U.S. unless the broker has documentary evidence in its records that demonstrates that the beneficial owner is a non-U.S. shareholder and specified conditions are met or an exemption is otherwise established. Payment of the proceeds from a disposition of our shares by a non-U.S. shareholder made by or through the U.S. office of a broker generally is subject to information reporting and backup withholding unless the non-U.S. shareholder certifies under penalties of perjury that it is not a U.S. person and satisfies certain other requirements, or otherwise establishes an exemption from information reporting and backup withholding.
Backup withholding is not an additional tax. Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules may be refunded or credited against the shareholder’s U.S. federal income tax liability if certain required information is furnished to the IRS. Shareholders should consult their own tax advisors regarding application of backup withholding to them and the availability of, and procedure for obtaining an exemption from, backup withholding.
38
FATCA
The Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act, or FATCA, imposes a U.S. federal withholding tax on certain types of payments made to “foreign financial institutions” and certain other non-U.S. entities unless certain due diligence, reporting, withholding, and certification obligation requirements are satisfied. FATCA generally imposes a U.S. federal withholding tax at a rate of 30% on dividends on, and gross proceeds from the sale or other disposition of, our shares if paid to a foreign entity unless either (i) the foreign entity is a “foreign financial institution” that undertakes certain due diligence, reporting, withholding, and certification obligations, or in the case of a foreign financial institution that is a resident in a jurisdiction that is treated as having an intergovernmental agreement to implement FATCA, the entity complies with the diligence and reporting requirements of the agreement, (ii) the foreign entity is not a “foreign financial institution” and identifies certain of its U.S. investors, or (iii) the foreign entity otherwise is excepted under FATCA. If we determine withholding is appropriate for our common shares, we may withhold tax at the applicable statutory rate, and we will not pay any additional amounts in respect of the withholding. However, under delayed effective dates provided for in the Treasury Regulations and other IRS guidance, such required withholding will not begin until January 1, 2017 for gross proceeds from a sale or other disposition of our common shares.
If withholding is required under FATCA on a payment related to our common shares, our common shareholders that otherwise would not be subject to withholding (or that otherwise would be entitled to a reduced rate of withholding) generally will be required to seek a refund or credit from the IRS to obtain the benefit of such exemption or reduction (provided that such benefit is available). You should consult your own tax advisor regarding the effect of FATCA on an investment in our common shares.
Tax Aspects of Our Investments in Our Operating Partnership and Other Subsidiary Partnerships
The following discussion summarizes the material U.S. federal income tax considerations that are applicable to our direct and indirect investments in our subsidiaries that are taxed as partnerships for U.S. federal income tax purposes, each individually referred to as a “Partnership” and, collectively, as the “Partnerships.” The following discussion does not address state or local tax laws or any U.S. federal tax laws other than income tax laws.
Classification as Partnerships
We are required to include in our income our distributive share of each Partnership’s income and allowed to deduct our distributive share of each Partnership’s losses but only if the Partnership is classified for U.S. federal income tax purposes as a partnership rather than as a corporation or an association treated as a corporation. An unincorporated entity with at least two owners, as determined for U.S. federal income tax purposes, will be classified as a partnership, rather than as a corporation, for U.S. federal income tax purposes if it:
• | is treated as a partnership under the Treasury Regulations relating to entity classification, or the “check-the-box regulations”; and |
• | is not a “publicly traded partnership.” |
Under the check-the-box regulations, an unincorporated entity with at least two owners may elect to be classified either as an association treated as a corporation or as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If such an entity does not make an election, it generally will be taxed as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Our Operating Partnership intends to be classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes and will not elect to be treated as an association treated as a corporation.
39
A publicly traded partnership is a partnership whose interests are traded on an established securities market or are readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof. A publicly traded partnership generally is treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes, but will not be so treated if, for each taxable year beginning after December 31, 1987 in which it was classified as a publicly traded partnership, at least 90% of the partnership’s gross income consisted of specified passive income, including real property rents, gains from the sale or other disposition of real property, interest, and dividends, or the “90% passive income exception.” The Treasury Regulations provide limited safe harbors from treatment as a publicly traded partnership. Pursuant to one of those safe harbors, interests in a partnership will not be treated as readily tradable on a secondary market or the substantial equivalent thereof if (1) all interests in the partnership were issued in a transaction or transactions that were not required to be registered under the Securities Act, and (2) the partnership does not have more than 100 partners at any time during the partnership’s taxable year. In determining the number of partners in a partnership, a person owning an interest in a partnership, grantor trust, or S corporation that owns an interest in the partnership is treated as a partner in the partnership only if (1) substantially all of the value of the owner’s interest in the entity is attributable to the entity’s direct or indirect interest in the partnership and (2) a principal purpose of the use of the entity is to permit the partnership to satisfy the 100-partner limitation. If any Partnership does not qualify for any safe harbor and is treated as a publicly traded partnership, we believe that such Partnership would have sufficient qualifying income to satisfy the 90% passive income exception and, therefore, would not be treated as a corporation for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
We have not requested, and do not intend to request, a ruling from the IRS that any Partnership is or will be classified as a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes. If, for any reason, a Partnership were treated as a corporation, rather than as a partnership, for U.S. federal income tax purposes, we may not be able to qualify as a REIT, unless we qualify for certain statutory relief provisions. See “—Gross Income Tests” and “—Asset Tests.” In addition, any change in a Partnership’s status for U.S. federal income tax purposes might be treated as a taxable event, in which case we might incur tax liability without any related cash distribution. See “—Annual Distribution Requirements.” Further, items of income and deduction of the Partnership would not pass through to us, and we would be treated as a shareholder for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Consequently, the Partnership would be required to pay income tax at U.S. federal corporate income tax rates on its net income, and distributions to us would constitute dividends that would not be deductible in computing the Partnership’s taxable income.
Income Taxation of the Partnerships and Their Partners
Partners, Not the Partnerships, Subject to Tax. A partnership is not a taxable entity for U.S. federal income tax purposes. Rather, we are required to take into account our distributive share of each Partnership’s income, gains, losses, deductions, and credits for each taxable year of the Partnership ending with or within our taxable year, even if we receive no distribution from the Partnership for that year or a distribution that is less than our share of taxable income. Similarly, even if we receive a distribution, it may not be taxable if the distribution does not exceed our adjusted tax basis in our interest in the Partnership.
Partnership Allocations. Although a partnership agreement generally will determine the allocation of income and losses among partners, the allocations will be disregarded for tax purposes if they do not comply with the provisions of the U.S. federal income tax laws governing partnership allocations. If an allocation is not recognized for U.S. federal income tax purposes, the item subject to the allocation will be reallocated in accordance with the partners’ interests in the partnership, which will be determined by taking into account all of the facts and circumstances relating to the economic arrangement of the partners with respect to such item.
Tax Allocations With Respect to Contributed Properties. Income, gain, loss, and deduction attributable to appreciated or depreciated property contributed to a partnership for U.S. federal income tax purposes in exchange for an interest in the partnership must be allocated for U.S. federal income tax purposes in a manner such that the contributing partner is charged with, or benefits from, respectively, the unrealized gain or unrealized loss associated with the property at the time of the contribution (the “704(c) Allocations”). The amount of the unrealized gain or unrealized loss, referred to as “built-in gain” or “built-in loss,” at the time of contribution is generally equal to the difference between the fair market value of the contributed property at the time of contribution and the adjusted tax basis of the property at that time, referred to as a book-tax difference.
A book-tax difference attributable to depreciable property generally is decreased on an annual basis as a result of the allocation of depreciation deductions to the contributing partner for book purposes, but not for tax purposes. The Treasury Regulations require partnerships to use a “reasonable method” for allocating items with respect to which there is a book-tax difference and outline several reasonable allocation methods.
40
Any gain or loss recognized by a partnership on the disposition of contributed properties generally will be allocated first to the partners of the partnership who contributed such properties to the extent of their built-in gain or loss on those properties for U.S. federal income tax purposes, as adjusted to take into account reductions in book-tax differences described in the previous paragraph. Any remaining gain or loss recognized by the partnership on the disposition of the contributed properties generally will be allocated among the partners in accordance with their partnership agreement unless such allocations and agreement do not satisfy the requirements of applicable Treasury Regulations, in which case the allocation will be made in accordance with the “partners’ interests in the partnership.”
Under the “traditional method,” as well as certain other reasonable methods available to us, built-in gain or loss with respect to our depreciable properties (i) could cause us to be allocated lower amounts of depreciation deductions for tax purposes than for economic purposes and (ii) in the event of a sale of the properties, could cause us to be allocated taxable gain in excess of the economic gain allocated to us as a result of the sale, with a corresponding tax benefit to the contributing partners.
Basis in Partnership Interest. Our adjusted tax basis in any Partnership interest we own generally will be:
• | the amount of cash and the basis of any other property we contribute to the Partnership; |
• | increased by our distributive share of the Partnership’s income (including tax-exempt income) and any increase in our allocable share of indebtedness of the Partnership; and |
• | reduced, but not below zero, by our distributive share of the Partnership’s loss (including any non-deductible items), the amount of cash and the basis of property distributed to us, and any reduction in our allocable share of indebtedness of the Partnership. |
Loss allocated to us in excess of our basis in a Partnership interest will not be taken into account for U.S. federal income tax purposes until we again have basis sufficient to absorb the loss. A reduction of our allocable share of Partnership indebtedness will be treated as a constructive cash distribution to us, and will reduce our adjusted tax basis in the Partnership interest. Distributions, including constructive distributions, in excess of the basis of our Partnership interest will constitute taxable income to us. Such distributions and constructive distributions normally will be characterized as long- term capital gain.
Sale of a Partnership’s Property. Generally, any gain realized by a Partnership on the sale of property held for more than one year will be long- term capital gain, except for any portion of the gain treated as depreciation or cost recovery recapture. Our share of any Partnership’s gain from the sale of inventory or other property held primarily for sale to customers in the ordinary course of the Partnership’s trade or business will be treated as income from a prohibited transaction subject to a 100% tax. See “—Gross Income Tests.”
Possible Legislative or Other Actions Affecting Tax Consequences
Prospective shareholders should recognize that the present U.S. federal income tax treatment of an investment in us may be modified by legislative, judicial or administrative action at any time and that any of these actions may affect investments and commitments previously made. The rules dealing with U.S. federal income taxation are constantly under review by persons involved in the legislative process, the IRS and the U.S. Treasury Department, resulting in revisions of regulations and revised interpretations of established concepts as well as statutory changes. Revisions in U.S. federal tax laws and interpretations of these laws could adversely affect the tax consequences of your investment.
State and Local Taxes
We and/or you may be subject to taxation by various states and localities, including those in which we or a shareholder transacts business, owns property or resides. The state and local tax treatment may differ from the U.S. federal income tax treatment described above. Consequently, you should consult your own tax advisors regarding the effect of state and local tax laws on an investment in our common shares.
41
PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
Unless otherwise set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement to this prospectus, we may offer and sell these securities to or through one or more underwriters, dealers and agents, or directly to purchasers, on a continuous or delayed basis. Any such underwriter, dealer or agent involved in the offer and sale of the securities will be named in the applicable prospectus supplement. If we do not name a firm in the prospectus supplement, the firm may not directly or indirectly participate in any underwriting of those securities, although it may participate in the distribution of securities under circumstances entitling it to a dealer’s allowance or agent’s commission. In addition, we may sell securities directly to investors on our own behalf in those jurisdictions where we are authorized to do so.
Our securities, including our common shares. may also be sold in one or more of the following transactions: (i) block transactions (which may involve crosses) in which a broker-dealer may sell all or a portion of such shares as agent, but may position and resell all or a portion of the block as principal to facilitate the transaction; (ii) purchases by any such broker-dealer as principal, and resale by such broker-dealer for its own account pursuant to an accompanying prospectus supplement; (iii) a special offering, an exchange distribution or a secondary distribution in accordance with applicable NYSE or other stock exchange, quotation system or over-the-counter market rules; (iv) ordinary brokerage transactions and transactions in which any such broker-dealer solicits purchasers; (v) sales “at the market” to or through a market maker or into an existing trading market, on an exchange or otherwise, for such shares; and (vi) sales in other ways not involving market makers or established trading markets, including direct sales to purchasers.
For each offering of our securities, the accompanying prospectus supplement or other offering materials will describe (i) the terms of the offering and the specific plan of distribution; (ii) the name or names of any underwriters, dealers, agents or direct purchasers; (iii) the purchase price of the securities; (iv) any delayed delivery arrangements; (v) any commissions paid to agents and any underwriting discounts, commissions or other items constituting underwriters’ compensation; (vi) any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers; and (vii) any other applicable terms of the specific offering.
Underwriters may offer and sell the securities at a fixed price or prices which may be changed, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. We also may, from time to time, authorize dealers or agents to offer and sell the securities upon such terms and conditions as may be set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement. In connection with the sale of any of the securities, underwriters may receive compensation from us in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions from purchasers of the securities for whom they may act as agent. Underwriters may sell the securities to or through dealers, and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions or commissions from the underwriters or commissions from the purchasers for whom they may act as agents.
Any underwriting compensation paid by us to underwriters or agents in connection with the offering of the securities, and any discounts or concessions or commissions allowed by underwriters to participating dealers, will be set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement.
Dealers and agents participating in the distribution of the securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts and commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions. In compliance with the guidelines of the Financial Industry Regulatory Authority, Inc., or FINRA, the maximum discount or commission to be received by any FINRA member or independent broker-dealer may not exceed 8% of the aggregate offering price of the securities offered hereby. It is anticipated that the maximum compensation to be received in any particular offering of securities will be less than this amount.
Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled, under agreements entered into with us, to indemnification against and contribution toward certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act. Unless otherwise set forth in an accompanying prospectus supplement, the obligations of any underwriters to purchase any of the securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent, and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of such securities, if any are purchased.
Underwriters, dealers and agents may engage in transactions with, or perform services for, us and our affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
42
If indicated in an accompanying prospectus supplement, we may authorize underwriters or other agents to solicit offers by institutions to purchase securities from us pursuant to contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future date. Institutions with which we may make these delayed delivery contracts include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable institutions and others. The contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in the applicable accompanying prospectus supplement, and such prospectus supplement will set forth any commissions we pay for solicitation of these contracts. The underwriters and other agents will not have any responsibility with regard to the validity or performance of these delayed delivery contracts.
In connection with the offering of the securities hereby, certain underwriters, and selling group members and their respective affiliates may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the market price of the applicable securities. Such transactions may include stabilization transactions effected in accordance with Rule 104 of Regulation M promulgated by the SEC pursuant to which such persons may bid for or purchase securities for the purpose of stabilizing their market price. The underwriters in an offering of securities may also create a “short position” for their account by selling more securities in connection with the offering than they are committed to purchase from us. In such case, the underwriters could cover all or a portion of such short position by either purchasing securities in the open market following completion of the offering of such securities or by exercising any overallotment option granted to them by us. In addition, the managing underwriter may impose “penalty bids” under contractual arrangements with other underwriters, which means that they can reclaim from an underwriter (or any selling group member participating in the offering) for the account of the other underwriters, the selling concession with respect to securities that are distributed in the offering but subsequently purchased for the account of the underwriters in the open market. Any of the transactions described in this paragraph or comparable transactions that are described in any accompanying prospectus supplement may result in the maintenance of the price of the securities at a level above that which might otherwise prevail in the open market. None of such transactions described in this paragraph or in an accompanying prospectus supplement are required to be taken by any underwriters and, if they are undertaken, may be discontinued at any time.
We may sell the securities in exchange in whole or part for consideration other than cash. This consideration may consist of services or products, whether tangible or intangible, and including services or products we may use in our business; outstanding debt or equity securities of our company or one or more of its subsidiaries; debt or equity securities or assets of other companies, including in connection with investments, joint ventures or other strategic transactions, or acquisitions; release of claims or settlement of disputes; and satisfaction of obligations, including obligations to make payments to distributors or other suppliers and payment of interest on outstanding obligations. We may sell the securities as part of a transaction in which outstanding debt or equity securities of our company or one or more of our subsidiaries are surrendered, converted, exercised, canceled or transferred.
Our common shares are listed on the NYSE under the symbol “WSR.” Any securities that we issue, other than common shares, will be new issues of securities with no established trading market and may or may not be listed on a national securities exchange, quotation system or over-the-counter market. Any underwriters or agents to or through which securities are sold by us may make a market in such securities, but such underwriters or agents will not be obligated to do so and any of them may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the liquidity of or trading market for any securities sold by us.
LEGAL MATTERS
Certain matters of Maryland law, including the validity of the common shares to be offered by means of this prospectus, will be passed upon for us by Morrison & Foerster LLP. Certain federal income tax matters will be passed upon for us by Morrison & Foerster LLP.
EXPERTS
Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C., independent registered public accounting firm, has audited the consolidated financial statements of Whitestone REIT appearing in Whitestone REIT’s Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2014, and the effectiveness of Whitestone REIT’s and its subsidiaries’ internal control over financial reporting as of December 31, 2014, as set forth in their report. We have incorporated by reference the aforementioned financial statements in this prospectus, and audited financial statements to be included in subsequently filed documents will be incorporated herein by reference, in reliance upon the reports of Pannell Kerr Forster of Texas, P.C., and upon the authority of such firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
43
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are a public company and file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may request copies of these documents by writing to the SEC and paying a fee for the copying cost. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information about the operation of the public reference room. Our SEC filings are also available to the public at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, you may read and copy of SEC filings at the office of the New York Stock Exchange at 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. We also make available free of charge through our website our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as amended, as well as our definitive proxy statement and Section 16 reports on Forms 3, 4 and 5. Our website address is www.whitestonereit.com. However, the information located on, or accessible from, our website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, except as described below, a part of this prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement or incorporated into any other filings that we make with the SEC.
This prospectus is only part of a registration statement on Form S-3 we have filed with the SEC under the Securities Act and, therefore, omits some of the information contained in the registration statement. We have also filed exhibits and schedules to the registration statement which are excluded from this prospectus, and you should refer to the applicable exhibit or schedule for a complete description of any statement referring to any contract or other document. You may inspect or obtain a copy of the registration statement, including the exhibits and schedules, as described in the previous paragraph.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
We are a public company and file annual, quarterly and current reports, proxy statements and other information with the SEC. You may read and copy any document we file at the SEC’s public reference room at 100 F Street, NE, Washington, D.C. 20549. You may request copies of these documents by writing to the SEC and paying a fee for the copying cost. Please call the SEC at 1-800-SEC-0330 for more information about the operation of the public reference room. Our SEC filings are also available to the public at the SEC’s website at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, you may read and copy of SEC filings at the office of the New York Stock Exchange at 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. We also make available free of charge through our website our Annual Reports on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, Current Reports on Form 8-K and amendments to those reports filed or furnished pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, as amended, as well as our definitive proxy statement and Section 16 reports on Forms 3, 4 and 5. Our website address is www.whitestonereit.com. However, the information located on, or accessible from, our website is not, and shall not be deemed to be, except as described below, a part of this prospectus or the accompanying prospectus supplement or incorporated into any other filings that we make with the SEC.
This prospectus is only part of a registration statement on Form S-3 we have filed with the SEC under the Securities Act and, therefore, omits some of the information contained in the registration statement. We have also filed exhibits and schedules to the registration statement which are excluded from this prospectus, and you should refer to the applicable exhibit or schedule for a complete description of any statement referring to any contract or other document. You may inspect or obtain a copy of the registration statement, including the exhibits and schedules, as described in the previous paragraph.
44
8,100,000 Common Shares
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT |
SunTrust Robinson Humphrey
BMO Capital Markets
JMP Securities
Wunderlich
J.J.B. Hilliard, W.L. Lyons, LLC
Janney Montgomery Scott
Ladenburg Thalmann
Maxim Group LLC
April , 2017